Authorities in Côte d'Ivoire issued a warrant of arrest against presidential candidate Guillaume Soro following his failed attempt to return to the country after a six-month absence.

According to a source close to Côte d'Ivoire's presidency, Soro requested the plane to land in Ghana to avoid arrest upon arrival in the capital, Abidjan.

Fifteen supporters of Soro were also arrested on different charges and detained, according to state prosecutor Richard Adou. Among those arrested was Alain Lobognon, one of Soro's close aides.

According to Adou, Soro is accused of an attempt against the state authority, which authorities had proof was going to be executed soon.

Soro, a former prime minister, is also being investigated for alleged misuse of public funds and money laundering for close to $2.5 million.

The arrests came as security forces raided Soro's Generations and People in Solidarity (GPS) party headquarters where Lobognon had alleged that Soro's plane was forcefully diverted to Accra to prevent him participating in the election.

Police used tear gas to disperse members of the media and party supporters from the party headquarters which is located next to the American embassy.

Hundreds of security personnel, including riot police, were deployed along the way from Abidjan's airport to Soro's home to block any of his supporters from gathering, AFP reported citing police sources.

Soro, who led rebels against former president Laurent Gbagbo in a civil war in 2002, is hoping to be a candidate in next year's presidential election scheduled for October.

These incidents raise fears that the election will take place in a tense atmosphere. At least 3,000 people were killed in violence between 2010 and 2011 following an election dispute between Gbagbo and current president Alassane Ouattara.

Soro was once an ally of President Ouattara but they allegedly fell out over the former's presidential ambitions.