Ivory Coast elections: Ouattara’s final rule or forever rule?

Ivory Coast Presidential Election Results

President Alassane Ouattara has been declared the winner of the recent Ivory Coast elections, securing 89.7% of the vote as announced by Electoral Commission head Ibrahime Kuibiert Coulibaly on Mon, Oct 27, 2025. This marks his fourth term, with his current term expected to end in late 2025.

Constitutional Changes and Controversies

In 2016, a constitutional amendment reset presidential term limits, allowing President Ouattara to run again. This move was presented by allies as legal and stabilizing, while opponents criticized it as "constitutional manipulation," a tactic observed across West Africa in recent years.

The election process was notable for the exclusion of significant figures like former President Laurent Gbagbo and technocrat Tidjane Thiam, due to a criminal conviction and citizenship grounds, respectively. Voter turnout was approximately 50%, consistent with the 2020 elections.

Concerns have been raised by civil society groups about the potential for political narrowing to increase apathy among the youth, who constitute more than two-thirds of the population under 30.

Within the ruling party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), there is an ongoing discussion about succession. Notable figures such as former Prime Minister Patrick Achi and Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara, the president's younger brother, are considered potential successors. However, there is no clear transition plan currently in place.

President Ouattara is credited with overseeing significant economic growth, averaging near 6% annually, and with infrastructure development. Supporters argue that his experience is crucial to maintaining stability, especially in light of neighboring countries' challenges. However, critics caution that this perceived stability might undermine democratic processes.

Based on reporting by Africanews.