Cote d'Ivoire
During the brief seven-day campaign period, at least two opposition demonstrations have been dispersed by the security forces, purportedly on public safety grounds, according to Human Rights Watch Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images

A rights group has called the government of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to respect the freedom of expression and association of political parties opposed to its draft constitution ahead of the constitutional referendum on 30 October.

The draft constitution contains provisions that the opposition contends will significantly strengthen the power of the presidency, and the proposed modification scraps a clause that sets 75 as the age limit to be able to run for president. Opposition parties have called on their supporters to boycott the vote. Led by 74-year-old President Alassane Ouattara and the ruling coalition, the "Yes" camp campaign kicked off earlier this week.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that, in the period leading to the referendum campaign, opposition parties' ability to explain their position to the public had been "severely undermined".

Demonstrators opposed to the constitution have at times been prevented from holding rallies and demonstrations during and after the campaign period. While several opposition rallies occurred without incident, HRW stated on 27 October that security forces dispersed crowds of demonstrators opposed to the constitution at least twice, fired tear gas and briefly detained several opposition leaders during the brief seven-day campaign.

Ivorian government spokesman Bruno Koné said the 20 October "unauthorised" rally was dispersed on public safety grounds.

Cote d'Ivoire
A woman looks on during a rally for Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara ahead of a referendum on the adoption of a new constitution that changes contentious rules on presidential eligibility Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images

The "No" campaign has also been weakened by limited resources, a lack of access to state media, and the suspension of two opposition-leaning newspapers days before the "No" campaign period began.

While many opposition papers remain in circulation, a journalist monitoring the Ivorian press said there had been practically no coverage of opposition to the constitution in state media.

"How can we be expected to explain the complexities and challenges of a new constitution in just seven days?" one opposition spokesperson was quoted as saying by HRW. Under Ivorian law, it is required that political parties have equal access to state media during the referendum campaign.

"Political parties and all Ivoirians have the right to express their views on the new draft constitution," Corinne Dufka, associate Africa director at HRW, said. "The government should ensure that both those in favour of the new text, as well as those against it, can make their voices heard."

The National Assembly approved the new constitution on 11 October, with 239 of 249 deputies voting "yes."

Could President Ouattara run for a third term?

While the government claims the new constitution is necessary to turn the page after a long period of political violence, activists say the new text could enable 74-year-old President Alassane Ouattara to run for president for a third time in 2020.

Ouattara secured a second term in a landslide poll win in October last year in elections he said intended to draw a line under years of turmoil and a 2011 civil war.

The draft constitution removes the requirement that both parents of a presidential candidate must be native-born Ivorians – a clause used to prevent Ouattara from running for election in 1995 and 2000.

The new text also removes an age limit for presidential candidates – currently set at 75.

However, while the constitution maintains a two-term limit for presidents, "it does not require the president submit all proposed constitutional amendments to a referendum", according to HRW. The text sets out the new amendments can be approved by a two-thirds vote of the national assembly and the new senate.

The opposition claims that presidents will be able to force through future constitutional changes.