Alassane Ouattara Claims Fourth Presidential Term Amid Controversy

Wed Oct 29 2025 04:11:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ivory Coast President Ouattara secures an unprecedented fourth term amid opposition boycotts and rival exclusions.

Alassane Ouattara, at 83, has been declared the winner of Ivory Coast's presidential election with 89.8% of the votes. His nearest competitor received only 3.09% after key rivals were barred, and the turnout was a mere 50.1%. The opposition denounces the election as a 'civilian coup d'etat' and refuses to accept Ouattara's victory, which follows a controversial constitutional change that allowed him to run again.

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has secured a fourth term in an election that saw two of his prominent challengers barred from participating, provisional results indicate.

Ouattara, aged 83, achieved a staggering 89.8% of the vote, as per the electoral commission's announcement. Businessman Jeal-Louis Billon, his closest competitor, garnered only 3.09%. This overwhelming win was anticipated given that former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam had been banned from the race, leading them to call for a boycott of the elections.

Voter turnout stood at just 50.1%, reflecting the impact of the opposition's absence from the ballots. Notably, Gbagbo's ex-wife, Simone Gbagbo—who was permitted to run—received only 2.42% of the vote.

The election results are provisional, with the final declaration pending from the Constitutional Council, which will also address any electoral challenges raised.

The opposition alliance, composed of Gbagbo and Thiam's parties, dismissed the election outcome as a 'civilian coup d'etat', asserting they will not recognize Ouattara as a legitimate leader.

Ouattara first took office in 2011 following Gbagbo's removal after a controversial election in 2010. Originally limited to two terms, constitutional amendments in 2016 allowed him to extend his presidency by seeking re-election in 2020—a race that also saw significant opposition boycotts.