At 83, Ivorian President, Ouattara, announces candidacy for controversial fourth term

President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast has officially announced his candidacy for a fourth term in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025, sparking renewed political tension across the West African nation.

Ouattara, 83, who has led the country since 2011, confirmed his decision on Tuesday, saying he is constitutionally eligible and physically fit to continue.

“I am a candidate because the constitution of our country allows me to run for another term and my health permits it,” he stated, while citing Ivory Coast’s current economic, security, and monetary challenges as requiring experienced leadership.

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His declaration follows his nomination by the ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party, though he had until now remained silent on whether he would participate in the election.

However, critics have accused Ouattara of entrenching power and undermining democracy.

Many prominent opposition figures have been barred from contesting the election, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation and claims of political manipulation.

Among those excluded are former president Laurent Gbagbo, his former ally Charles Blé Goudé, and ex-prime minister Guillaume Soro, all disqualified due to criminal convictions.

Another major opposition figure, Tidjane Thiam of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), was barred over issues related to nationality.

In response, the African People’s Party of Ivory Coast (PPACI), led by Gbagbo, and the PDCI have formed a united front, demanding that the barred candidates be reinstated.

They allege that the government is using legal tactics to eliminate strong challengers from the electoral race, while authorities insist that the judiciary operates independently.

Ouattara’s political journey began with a career at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the West African regional bank BCEAO.

He entered politics under the mentorship of Ivory Coast’s founding president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, eventually playing a pivotal role in managing the economy during a national crisis.

After Houphouët-Boigny’s death in 1993, Ouattara lost a power struggle to Henri Konan Bédié and left politics temporarily.

Though he returned with intentions to run for president in 1995 and 2000 under the Rally of the Republicans (RDR), he was disqualified both times under nationality laws.

The political instability culminated in a civil conflict that divided the country into a rebel-held Muslim north, where Ouattara has strong support, and a government-controlled Christian-majority south.

Ouattara eventually won the 2010 election, but then-incumbent Gbagbo refused to step down, triggering a violent post-election crisis that claimed over 3,000 lives.

Gbagbo was later acquitted of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court but still faces a conviction in Ivory Coast.

Despite the constitutional two-term limit, Ouattara controversially secured a third term in 2020 after the opposition boycotted the election, a move many deemed unlawful.

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His current bid for a fourth term has reignited debates over constitutional legitimacy and democratic integrity in the country.