The Ivorian government on Friday evening banned for a period of two months all demonstrations or meetings of "political parties or groups," with the exception of those of the five candidates qualified for the presidential election of October 25.

The political climate in the country is tense: the two main opposition parties, whose leaders Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam had their candidacies rejected by the Constitutional Council, had called for several demonstrations in recent days.

Around 700 people were arrested in one week, according to the public prosecutor.

In addition to the exclusion of its leaders, the Common Front, which brings together the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI) and the African People's Party - Côte d'Ivoire (PPA-CI) of Messrs. Thiam and Gbagbo, is protesting against the candidacy for a fourth term of outgoing President Alassane Ouattara.

In early October, the Ivorian authorities banned demonstrations challenging the decisions of the Constitutional Council.

On Friday evening, the Ministries of the Interior and Defense issued a decree extending this ban to all demonstrations or meetings of "political parties or groups," with the exception of those qualified for next Saturday's election.

Violators "are liable to prosecution," the authorities said.

On Thursday, 26 people were sentenced to three years in prison, according to their lawyers, notably for "disturbing public order" after participating in banned demonstrations.

Facing Alassane Ouattara, in power since 2011 and who is emerging as the big favorite in the election, four candidates are in the running: the former Minister of Commerce Jean-Louis Billon, a dissident from the PDCI; two former companions of Laurent Gbagbo who have broken with him, his ex-wife Simone Ehivet Gbagbo and the former minister Ahoua Don Mello; and finally Henriette Lagou, already a candidate in 2015.