The presidential election on October 25 in the West African nation comes after a decade of relative stability following the post-electoral crisis of 2010–2011, which left thousands dead and the nation divided. While Ivory Coast has since enjoyed strong economic growth, deep political fault lines remain.
The vote will follow a two-round system: If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the election will head to a runoff. The elected president will serve a five-year term, which would allow him to shape the country’s political direction 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 reset term limits. A former International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist, Ouattara is expected to win. Under his leadership, Ivory Coast became one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, buoyed by major infrastructure investments.
According to the World Bank, Ivory Coast “has sustained one of the fastest growth rates in sub-Saharan Africa for more than a decade.” The World Bank adds that “between 2012 and 2019, real GDP grew at an average of 8.2%,” with growth persisting even through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alassane Ouattara wants to remain president, and had the constitution amended to allow him to run again Image: Sia Kambou/AFP
One beneficiary of government investment and economic growth is the key agricultural region around Daloa. Situated about 140 kilometers west of the capital Yamoussoukro, the area previously lacked industrial zones. The government’s Infrastructure Projects in Ivory Coast (PRICI) program touts improved roads, water, sanitation, and public buildings.
Daloa resident Danielle Zahui told DW: “We came out in numbers to thank the president for what he’s done for Daloa.”
Yet challenges remain. Only 25% of secondary roads are paved. The 191 kilometer stretch between Dalo, Vavoua, Seguela, and Kani is in poor condition.
“The road is terrible,” says tailor Yaya Sanogo, “Even getting around is a problem.”
Ouattara has promised a highway linking Daloa to Yamoussoukro.
“We’re entering the 2025–2030 period with energy,” Ouattara told Daloa residents on the campaign trail in early October, “Growth will continue, and we’ll deliver more infrastructure, production, and better living conditions.”
Ivory Coast: Abidjan developing rapidly but at what cost?
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Opposition faces barriers
Ouattara’s decision to run again for his party, the Rally of Houphouëtists 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, ex-prime minister Guillaume Soro, former prime minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), former youth leader Charles Ble Goude, and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam. Their exclusion has sparked criticism and raised concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.
Opposition supporters demand electoral reforms and the inclusion of candidates such as Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane ThiamImage: Diomande Ble Blonde/AP Photo/picture alliance
Thiam, leader of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), was seen as Ouattara’s strongest challenger but was disqualified for being a French-Ivorian dual national, and then removed from the electoral role for renouncing his French nationality too late. He called the election a “coronation” and accused the Ouattara’s government of abandoning democracy.
Women candidates step forward
Simone Ehivet Gbagbo of the Movement of Capable Generations (MGC), is a former First Lady and longtime political figure. She is running on a platform focused on decentralization, education, and social reform.
“Even today, the fight for democracy continues,” she told DW.
Simone Ehivet Gbagbo of the Movement of Capable Generations (MCG) promises social reforms if electedImage: Julien Adayé/DW
Henriette Lagou Adjoua, former Minister for Women’s Affairs, is also running. She pledges stronger legal protections and full implementation of the 30% quota law, which seeks to boost female participation in politics and policy decision-making. “Women are being marginalized,” she said. “If I win, gender equality will prevail.”
Independent voices
Jean-Louis Billon, a businessman and former minister, is campaigning for economic modernization, lower unemployment and private sector growth.
“Ivorians want change,” he told DW. “Let’s dare to change. Let’s go vote. All of us.”
With more than 60% of Ivorians aged under 25 according to the United Nations Population Fund, job creation remains one of the most urgent concerns.
Ahoua Don Mello, vice-president of the African People’s Party-Cote d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), is running as a “precautionary candidate” for banned ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, the party leader. His priorities include democratic reform, economic sovereignty, and Pan-African integration.
“We need an amnesty law, to release political prisoners and restore excluded candidates’ rights,” he told DW.
Jean-Louis Billon, a member of the PDCI-RDA, has also declared his presidential ambitionsImage: Sia Kambou/AFP
Security and disinformation
Regional instability — especially 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 this 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 from Sahel countries have prompted a government response, including billboards warning “Fake news divides, truth unites.”
The National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI), Ivory Coast’s cybersecurity agency, in August accused accounts with tens of thousands of followers from Sahel countries of trying to “incite disorder” in the wake of Thiam and other politicians’ exclusion from the polls.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed long-term observers to monitor the process and help prevent conflict. As the West Africa region grapples with coups and disputed elections, this election is seen as more than a contest for power — it is a test of Ivory Coast’s democratic resilience.
Julien Adayé contributed to this article.
Edited by Cai Nebe.
