Côte d’Ivoire Elections, reelects Alassane Ouattara for fourth term?

By Marina Chauffaille

Côte d’Ivoire held its presidential election on Oct. 25, 2025, where President Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term with about 89.7% of the vote, according to results released by the Independent Electoral Commission. The victory extends Ouattara’s rule through 2030 and reinforces his position as one of the most influential political figures in West Africa.

Ouattara, 83, campaigned on maintaining economic stability, expanding infrastructure, and attracting foreign investment. He defended his eligibility for another term by citing the 2016 constitutional reforms and framed his leadership as essential for preserving national unity.

The election was administered by the Independent Electoral Commission under oversight of the Constitutional Council, which verified results and resolved disputes.  Critics argued that the electoral process favored the ruling party and that political competition had narrowed since Ouattara’s first term began in 2011. The African Union and ECOWAS monitored the vote and reported that polling proceeded without major incident, though they noted limited voter choice. Candidate disqualifications and withdrawals became central to the election’s outcome, shaping participation and perception as most opposition figures were either disqualified or withdrew from the race following early polling gaps that showed a wide margin in favor of the incumbent.

Several political leaders initially announced their candidacies but later withdrew from the presidential race. Jean-Louis Billon of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI-RDA) remained on the ballot but conceded early. Kouadio Konan Bertin, a former minister of reconciliation, suspended his campaign citing lack of support. Yao Kouassi Maurice of the Ivorian Workers’ Party formally withdrew days before voting began and Ouattara’s main challenger, Jean-Louis Billon, a former commerce minister, who campaigned on economic diversification and public-sector reform, conceded defeat after early results showed a wide margin.

Disqualified candidates were Tidjane Thiam and Laurent Gbagbo. Thiam, a former banker and opposition leader who led the PDCI-RDA was removed from the electoral roll in April 2025 because he held dual French and Ivorian citizenship at the time of registration.  Thiam had renounced his French citizenship earlier in the year, but the court ruled the action came too late to restore eligibility and he violated nationality laws requiring exclusive Ivorian citizenship. Gbagbo, the former president was deemed ineligible by the Constitutional Council because of a 20-year conviction for economic crimes linked to the post-election conflict of 2010-2011, that left about 3,000 people dead when he refused to concede defeat to Ouattara.

The political fallout from the 2010-2011 crisis prompted years of reconciliation and institutional reform. A new constitution adopted in 2016 was designed to promote stability and limit presidential terms to two five-year mandates. However, it also reset the term count, a provision acknowledged by the Constitutional Council that allowed Gbagbo, later barred from running, and Ouattara to seek reelection under the new republic. Critics argued that while the measure was legally sound, it undermined the spirit of term limits and concentrated power under the guise of reform.

Regional bodies and neighboring governments acknowledged Ouattara’s reelection and called for continued cooperation through ECOWAS while encouraging inclusive dialogue ahead of upcoming local elections. In a preliminary statement, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, head of the joint ECOWAS–AU observation mission, said voting began “under a calm and peaceful climate.” In their final communiqué, the joint ECOWAS–AU Mission praised Ivorians for “the smooth conduct of the presidential election despite logistical delays and low turnout.” The African Union Commission added that the poll “reflects the Ivorian people’s desire for stability” and encouraged reforms to broaden future participation.

Côte d’Ivoire is a West African nation of roughly 32 million people that operates under a semi-presidential republic. The president shares executive authority with a prime minister, while the legislature exercises limited oversight. Abidjan serves as the economic capital, and Yamoussoukro remains the official political seat. The economy relies heavily on cocoa and cashew exports and has grown about 6% in recent years, though youth unemployment and inequality continue to fuel frustration among younger voters who see growth concentrated in major cities.

Domestically, the outcome reinforced Ouattara’s political strength and the public’s desire for continuity but revived questions about the future of democratic renewal. Analysts in Abidjan described the result as both a confirmation of stability and a warning about political stagnation. Many Ivorians support the president’s development agenda yet worry about concentrated power and the absence of a clear succession plan. As Ouattara begins another five-year term, the country faces a familiar challenge: balancing progress and prosperity with the need for political openness and generational leadership.