Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara Announces Controversial Bid for Fourth Term

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has announced his candidacy for a controversial fourth term in October’s presidential election amid opposition protests and the exclusion of key rivals from the ballot.

President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast has officially announced his candidacy for a fourth term in office, just three months ahead of the country’s highly anticipated presidential election in October.

In a nationally televised address on Tuesday evening, the 83-year-old leader cited mounting security threats and economic uncertainty as key reasons for his decision to remain in power. Ouattara assured citizens that both his health and the Ivorian Constitution allowed him to seek another term.

“I have listened to the people,” Ouattara declared. “In these times of national challenge, it is my duty to ensure stability and progress continue. I am in good health, and I remain committed to serving our country.”

The announcement has reignited fierce political debate across the nation. While the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party has thrown its full support behind Ouattara, opposition leaders have denounced the move as a constitutional overreach. Critics argue that his extended stay in office undermines democratic norms and threatens to destabilise the political landscape.

Tensions are further inflamed by the exclusion of prominent opposition figures from the provisional electoral list. Former President Laurent Gbagbo and Parti Démocratique de Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) leader Tidjane Thiam are both currently barred from contesting the election, raising concerns over the fairness and inclusivity of the electoral process.

“The candidacy of President Ouattara is not only unconstitutional, it is provocative,” said one senior opposition official. “Ivorians deserve a credible and transparent election—not a rubber-stamped continuation of power.”

The country has experienced relative stability since the end of the 2010–2011 post-election crisis, which claimed over 3,000 lives. However, the political climate remains fragile, and observers fear that the coming weeks could see a rise in unrest as the 31 August deadline for candidacy submissions approaches.

International bodies, including the African Union and ECOWAS, are closely monitoring the situation and have called for an open and peaceful electoral process.

Ouattara was first elected in 2010 and controversially won a third term in 2020 following a disputed interpretation of constitutional term limits. His latest bid for re-election could further test Ivory Coast’s democratic institutions and social cohesion.

As the campaign season begins in earnest, all eyes are on the country’s electoral commission and judiciary, whose decisions in the coming weeks could prove pivotal in shaping Ivory Coast’s political future.