At 83 years old, President Alassane Ouattara declared on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, that he will run for a fourth presidential term in the election scheduled for October 25, 2025.
In a video message posted on his X account, Ouattara emphasized that “the constitution of our country allows me to serve another term, and my health permits it,” adding that Ivory Coast “is facing unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges that require experience”. He justified the reversal of an earlier promise not to run, stating: “Duty sometimes transcends a promise that was made in good faith”.
As a former international banker and economist, Ouattara previously led the West African central bank (BCEAO) and served as deputy managing director of the IMF before entering national politics. He was first elected president in 2010, shortly after the country’s post–election conflict that displaced thousands.
Early Years and Rise
Born on January 1, 1942, in Dimbokro, Ouattara earned a doctorate in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and eventually became prime minister under founding president Félix Houphouët‑Boigny. After Houphouët‑Boigny’s death in 1993, a power struggle led Ouattara into exile. In 2000, a constitutional amendment barred him from presidential runs on the basis of his parentage—one of his parents was from Burkina Faso, which critics claimed made him ineligible.
Civil War and First Presidency
A rebellion in 2002 left Ivory Coast divided: the north, predominantly Muslim, under rebel control (largely supported by Ouattara’s ethnic group), and the south under government authority . In the disputed 2010 election, incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede, triggering violence that claimed more than 3,000 lives. Ouattara eventually took power in 2011.
Terms in Office and Constitutional Changes
Re‑elected in 2015 with strong backing from an alliance formed with former president Henri Konan Bédié, Ouattara won 83% of the vote. In 2020, despite initially pledging not to run again, he reversed course after the death of his chosen successor, citing a 2016 constitutional reset that he argues restarted term limits. This move was widely contested by the opposition, and the election saw boycott and unrest that led to at least 85 deaths.
Implications of a Fourth Term
Electoral Landscape
This time, many leading opposition figures have been excluded: Laurent Gbagbo, Charles Blé Goudé, and Guillaume Soro are barred due to criminal convictions. Presidential hopeful Tidjane Thiam was disqualified over dual-nationality rules—a point of controversy given that he later renounced his French citizenship.
Governance and Economy
Under Ouattara, Ivory Coast has enjoyed consistent economic growth, with the IMF projecting GDP expanding by approximately 6.3% in 2025, continuing a decade of growth rooted in cocoa exports and infrastructure investment. Political analysts repeatedly commend Ouattara for restoring stability after civil conflict, but caution that democratic progress remains incomplete and that election-related violence is a persistent risk.
Outlook Ahead of October Election
Ouattara’s fourth‑term announcement cements his dominance in a political environment weakened by fragmented and barred opposition. While he touts his economic track record and leadership during crises, critics warn of creeping authoritarianism and weakening democratic norms. Observers will watch closely for how ECOWAS and international partners respond to a campaign lacking many heavyweight contenders.
However, President Ouattara’s announcement on July 29, 2025, underscores the tension between continuity and democratic reform in Ivory Coast as the nation heads toward another pivotal vote.
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