Presidential elections in the West African nation on October 25 follow a decade of relative stability following the 2010-2011 post-election crisis that left thousands dead and a nation divided. While Ivory Coast has enjoyed strong economic growth since then, deep political faultlines remain.
The vote will follow a two-round system: if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the election will proceed to a runoff. The president-elect will serve a five-year term, allowing him or her to shape the political direction of the country for the remainder of the decade.
Ouattara’s fourth term bid
President Alassane Ouattara, 83, is seeking a fourth term after constitutional changes in 2016 imposed term limits. Ouattara, a former International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist, is expected to win. Under his leadership, Ivory Coast became one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, boosted by major infrastructure investment.
According to the World Bank, Ivory Coast “has maintained the fastest growth rate in sub-Saharan Africa for more than a decade.” The World Bank says that “between 2012 and 2019, real GDP grew at an average rate of 8.2%,” with growth continuing even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One beneficiary of government investment and economic development is the major agricultural sector around Daloa. The region, located about 140 kilometers west of the capital Yamoussoukro, previously featured industrial areas. The government’s Infrastructure Projects in Ivory Coast (PRICI) program promotes improved roads, water, sanitation and public buildings.
“We have come in large numbers to thank the president for what he has done for Daloa,” Daloa resident Daniel Zahui told DW.
Yet challenges remain. Only 25% of secondary roads are paved. The 191 kilometer stretch between Delo, Vavaua, Seguela and Kani is in poor condition.
“The road is so bad, even getting around is a problem,” says Yaya Sanogo, a tailor.
Ouattara has promised a highway linking Daloa to Yamoussoukro.
“We are entering the 2025-2030 period with energy,” Ouattara told Daloa residents during the campaign in early October, “Development will continue, and we will provide more infrastructure, production and better living conditions.”
Opposition faces hurdles
Ouattara’s decision to run for re-election for his party, the Rally of Houphouëts for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), has reignited a familiar debate about term limits and democratic credibility. Several prominent opposition figures have been barred from running: former President Laurent Gbagbo, former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), former youth leader Charles Blé Goude, and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam. Their exclusion has sparked criticism and raised concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.
Thiam, leader of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), was seen as Ouattara’s strongest rival, but was disqualified due to being a French-Ivorian dual citizen, and was then removed from the electoral role for renouncing his French nationality too late. He called the election a “coronation” and accused Ouattara’s government of abandoning democracy.
Female candidates came forward
Simone Ehiwet Gbagbo of the Movement of the Capable Generation (MGC), is a former first lady and longtime political figure. She is running on a platform focused on decentralization, education and social reform.
“The fight for democracy continues even today,” he told DW.
Former Minister of Women’s Affairs Henriette Lagou Adjoa is also in the running. She promises stronger legal protections and full implementation of the 30% quota law, which seeks to promote women’s participation in politics and policy decision-making.
“Women are being marginalised,” she said. “If I win, gender equality will be maintained.”
independent voices
Businessman and former minister Jean-Louis Billon is campaigning for economic modernisation, low unemployment and private sector growth.
“Ivorians want change,” he told DW. “Let’s dare to change. Let’s vote. All of us.”
According to the United Nations Population Fund, more than 60% of Ivorians are under the age of 25, making job creation one of the most urgent concerns.
African People’s Party-Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) vice-president Ahoua Don Mello is running as a “precautionary candidate” for party leader, banned former President Laurent Gbagbo. His priorities include democratic reforms, economic sovereignty, and Pan-African integration.
“We need an amnesty law to release political prisoners and restore the rights of ousted candidates,” he told DW.
Security and disinformation
Regional instability – particularly in neighboring Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea – has made security a major issue for the country. The government launched “Operation Hope”, deploying 44,000 security personnel and banning protests. While the state said it aimed to prevent unrest and maintain order throughout the electoral process, critics say the move restricts opposition mobilization and public debate.
Amnesty International criticized the blanket ban on peaceful demonstrations, calling it a violation of civil liberties and democratic norms. Meanwhile, disinformation campaigns in Sahel countries have prompted a government response, with billboards warning that “fake news divisions, truth units.”
Ivory Coast’s cybersecurity agency, the National Agency for Security of Information Systems (ANSSI), in August accused accounts with thousands of followers in Sahel countries of trying to “incite disorder” in the wake of Thiam and other politicians’ boycott of the election.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed long-term observers to monitor the process and help prevent conflict. As the West African region grapples with coups and disputed elections, the election is being seen as more than a contest for power – it is a test of Ivory Coast’s democratic resilience.
Julian Addey contributed to this article.
Edited by: Cai Nebe