Ivory Coast has begun voting in a crucial presidential election, with incumbent President Alassane Ouattara seeking a controversial fourth term that could extend his rule to nearly 20 years.
The 83-year-old leader, who has led the country since 2011, faces four challengers, though analysts say none are likely to unseat him.
His main rivals include former First Lady Simone Gbagbo and ex-Commerce Minister Jean-Louis Billon.
Both have centered their campaigns on job creation and agricultural reforms, pledging to tackle youth unemployment and rural poverty.
Ouattara’s party, the Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), dominates parliament with 169 of 255 seats, giving him a strong political advantage. Since taking office, Ouattara — a former International Monetary Fund (IMF) deputy managing director — has been credited with rebuilding the economy after the civil war, achieving annual growth rates of about 6%.
Yet, despite this progress, over one-third of the country’s 30 million citizens continue to live in poverty.
At his final rally in Abidjan on Thursday, Ouattara told cheering supporters, “The growth has been huge, but we need to continue.” His message of continuity resonated with loyalists who credit him with modern infrastructure and a revitalized cocoa industry.
The election, however, has been overshadowed by controversy and unrest. Major opposition figures, including former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam and ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, were barred from running. Their exclusion sparked protests, with hundreds arrested and dozens imprisoned in the weeks leading up to the vote.
Observers fear the tensions could reignite the kind of political violence that plagued past elections, notably the 2010–2011 crisis that killed more than 3,000 people and another flare-up in 2020 that left nearly 100 dead. In response, authorities have restricted public gatherings outside the five contesting parties and deployed over 40,000 security personnel nationwide.
As voting continues, Ivorians watch closely to see whether the poll will cement Ouattara’s legacy as a reformer or deepen concerns about democracy and political longevity in West Africa.
