Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, 83, has declared his intention to run for a fourth term in the upcoming October elections, sparking strong reactions from opposition leaders and civil society groups.
In his statement, Ouattara argued that his candidacy is legal under the country’s 2016 constitution, which he claims reset the presidential term limits. He cited national security and economic stability as his motivation to stay in power, stating his health was not an obstacle.
The decision comes amidst rising political tensions in the country, particularly due to the exclusion of several key opposition figures from the race. Those barred from running include former President Laurent Gbagbo, ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and prominent former minister and banker Tidjane Thiam.
On the day of Ouattara’s announcement, opposition figures including Thiam denounced the move. “This announcement violates our constitution and represents a new attack on democracy,” said Thiam in a statement, promising continued resistance from the Ivorian people.
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Authorities also banned a peaceful protest scheduled for August 7, organized to demand the reinstatement of disqualified candidates and an independent audit of the electoral roll.
Though Ouattara’s government points to an economic record of over 6% growth for four straight years, many Ivorians are disillusioned with what they see as a rigid political establishment. The country remains haunted by memories of the deadly 2010–2011 post-election violence and the unrest that followed Ouattara’s controversial third-term run in 2020.
More than 8.7 million Ivorians are registered to vote. Meanwhile, religious and civil society voices, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, have raised concerns about increasing political polarization in the lead-up to the polls.
BBC
