Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has officially announced his intention to run for a fourth term in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 25, reigniting political tensions in the West African nation.
In a televised address on Tuesday, the 83-year-old leader said his decision was driven by a desire to safeguard the country’s stability amid mounting regional security and economic threats.
“I am a candidate because I want our beloved Côte d’Ivoire to continue to remain a prosperous country, in peace and security,” Ouattara said, insisting that his health and the Constitution permit him to seek another term.
Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, argued that the current challenges—particularly the rise in terrorism across the region and global economic uncertainty—require experienced leadership.
His announcement ends months of speculation and follows persistent calls from his ruling party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), which lauded his governance record and called him the sole guarantor of national and regional stability.
However, his candidacy is expected to provoke backlash from opposition parties, which boycotted the 2020 election, accusing him of violating constitutional term limits. A 2016 constitutional amendment reset term counts, allowing him to claim eligibility for a third term, a move that triggered widespread protests.
Opposition leaders, including PDCI’s Tidjane Thiam and former president Laurent Gbagbo of the PPACI, have been barred from the electoral roll and are now fighting legal battles for reinstatement. Their parties have launched a joint campaign challenging the disqualifications and demanding fair electoral processes.
The deadline for submitting presidential candidacies is at the end of August.
