Ouattara confirms fourth-term bid ahead of Ivory Coast presidential election

Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has confirmed he will seek a fourth term in office, ending months of speculation just three months before the country’s presidential election.

In a televised address on Tuesday, the 83-year-old leader said his decision was motivated by a desire to preserve peace and stability amid growing regional insecurity and global economic uncertainty.

“I am a candidate because I want our beloved Côte d’Ivoire to remain a prosperous country, in peace and security,” Ouattara said, adding that both his health and the Constitution allow him to run again.

President since 2011, Ouattara argued that the country is facing unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges that demand experienced leadership.

His party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), had repeatedly urged him to run again, calling him the best hope for national stability. Supporters have staged large rallies across the country to back his candidacy.

However, his bid is likely to spark controversy. The opposition boycotted the 2020 election, claiming his third-term run was unconstitutional.

Although the Constitution was amended in 2016, allowing him to reset term limits, critics still view his extended stay in power as illegitimate.

Key opposition leaders—including Tidjane Thiam of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) and former president Laurent Gbagbo of the African People’s Party of Ivory Coast (PPACI)—have been barred from the electoral roll and are contesting their exclusion.

Their parties have launched a joint campaign demanding their reinstatement ahead of the October 25 election.

The deadline to submit presidential candidacies is at the end of August.