The verdict was handed down this Friday, March 27, 2026: Yapo Calice , Chief Executive Secretary of the PDCI-RDA, was acquitted by the court. Prosecuted for "disturbing public order" and "discrediting a court decision," the former Minister of Commerce walked free from a trial that had brought post-election tensions in Ivory Coast to a head.

Key points of the deliberation

1. Verdict: Not guilty. The court determined that the alleged acts did not constitute a criminal offense.
2. Initial request: The prosecution had nevertheless requested a three-year suspended prison sentence.
3. The person in question reacted: Upon leaving the hearing, Yapo Calice simply stated: "I am not going to make any political statements, I bless the name of God."

Origin of the case: Toumodi's "arm wrestling"

The dispute stemmed from the legislative elections of December 27, 2025. Yapo Calice had publicly criticized the Constitutional Council's invalidation of Hervé Alliali 's (PDCI-RDA) victory in Toumodi.

Although this invalidation caused a heated controversy, the opposition candidate was ultimately re-elected in the by-election on February 21, confirming his local roots despite the legal battle.

A political context under close surveillance

This court decision comes amid a climate of strong polarization following the re-election of President Alassane Ouattara for a fourth term.

Note: Several opposition figures, including PDCI-RDA spokesperson Soumaïla Bredoumy, have been subject to legal proceedings in recent months. While international organizations, such as Amnesty International, denounce waves of arbitrary arrests, the Ivorian government continues to defend the strict independence of its judiciary.