Gambiaj.com – (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) – A heated dispute has erupted in the Ivorian political arena, with former Prime Minister Guillaume Kigbafori Soro firmly rejecting claims that he enlisted former Senegalese President Macky Sall to facilitate dialogue with President Alassane Ouattara. This denial comes in response to a report published by Africa Intelligence, which alleged such an attempt at mediation.

According to a statement released by Soro’s communication team and reported by Confidentiel Afrique, the former prime minister categorically denies the assertions made by Africa Intelligence. Moussa Touré, Soro’s communication director, denounced the report as a “malicious publication” and part of a broader “campaign of manifestly oriented writings” intended to discredit Soro.

“M. Guillaume Kigbafori Soro has never mandated Macky Sall to speak with Alassane Ouattara,” Touré stated emphatically. He further asserted that Soro maintains direct communication channels with President Ouattara, rendering any intermediary unnecessary. “M. Soro has the personal number of M. Ouattara and can contact him directly if he wishes, as was the case in March 2024,” the communication director stated.

Soro’s team alleges that the Africa Intelligence article is a deliberate attempt at political manipulation, aimed at sowing discord within the opposition and diverting attention from what they describe as President Ouattara’s “unconstitutional” pursuit of another term. They accuse the publication of having close ties to the current Ivorian government.

The statement also added criticism of the Africa Intelligence media outlet, stating that the media outlet published “unverifiable affirmations” and that the media outlet has “notorious” links to “certain foreign offices and the palace of Abidjan.”

The political climate in Côte d’Ivoire is increasingly tense, with the 2025 presidential election looming. Opposition figures, including Tidjane Thiam, Laurent Gbagbo, and Charles Blé Goudé, have faced exclusion from the electoral process, raising concerns about fairness and transparency. These events, combined with the dispute over Soro’s alleged mediation attempt, contribute to a highly charged political atmosphere.