Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has announced his candidacy for a fourth term in the upcoming October 25 presidential election, sparking widespread criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups. The 83-year-old president, who has led the country since 2011, declared his plan in a televised address, citing the nation’s mounting economic, monetary, and security challenges as justification for his decision.
According to Ouattara, “I am a candidate because the constitution of our country allows me to run for another term and my health permits it.” He emphasized the need for experienced leadership to navigate the country’s complex issues, stating that Côte d’Ivoire is “facing unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges that require experience to manage”.
The opposition has strongly condemned Ouattara’s decision, arguing that it constitutes a violation of the country’s constitution. Tidjane Thiam, leader of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire, said, “The announcement made today by Mr Ouattara constitutes a violation of our constitution and a new attack on democracy.” Thiam’s party, along with the African People’s Party of Ivory Coast led by former president Laurent Gbagbo, has launched a joint campaign demanding the reinstatement of barred opposition leaders.
Several prominent opposition figures, including Gbagbo, Charles Blé Goudé, and Guillaume Soro, have been barred from contesting the election due to past criminal convictions. Thiam was also excluded from running due to nationality concerns, despite renouncing his French citizenship. The opposition has accused the authorities of targeting their opponents through legal means, while the government insists that the judiciary acts independently.
The announcement has sparked protests across the country, with demonstrators chanting slogans against what they call the “hijacking of democracy” and burning effigies of the president. Analysts warn that the situation could escalate into further instability, given the country’s history of violent elections. “We are ready to resist peacefully but firmly,” said one demonstrator in Abidjan. “Côte d’Ivoire belongs to all of us, not just one man”.
Ouattara’s decision follows a trend of leaders in West Africa seeking to extend their terms in office by changing constitutional limits. This has led to tensions and, in some cases, military coups in the region. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been divided over how to address these developments.