Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara, aged 83, has officially declared his intention to run for a fourth term in the country’s upcoming October elections.
In a public statement, President Ouattara dismissed concerns about his age and health, stating that his decision to run is motivated by the need to maintain national stability during a period marked by ongoing economic and security challenges. He cited the 2016 constitutional reform, which he claims reset presidential term limits, thereby allowing him to seek re-election legally.
Ouattara is widely considered the frontrunner in the race, especially as several prominent opposition figures have been disqualified from running. These include former President Laurent Gbagbo, ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and former minister Tidjane Thiam.
Opposition leaders, including Thiam, swiftly condemned Ouattara’s decision. “Today’s announcement by Mr. Ouattara constitutes a violation of our Constitution and a new attack on democracy,” Thiam stated. “The Ivorian people will continue to make their voices heard and show the world what we think of this situation.”
Coinciding with Ouattara’s announcement, authorities moved to ban a peaceful protest organized by opposition groups for 7 August. The demonstration was aimed at demanding the reinstatement of barred candidates and calling for an independent audit of the electoral roll.
Despite the criticism, Ouattara will likely rely on his economic record to bolster his campaign. Under his leadership, Ivory Coast’s economy has grown at a rate exceeding 6% annually over the past four years.
