Cocoa Stronghold Presidential Race: A Triumvirate of Hope and Division

Wed Oct 29 2025 00:07:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the upcoming presidential election in Ivory Coast, an ex-first lady, a tycoon, and an incumbent president face off amid political tensions and economic dissatisfaction.

As Ivory Coast prepares for its presidential vote, tensions mount in a landscape dominated by dance yet laced with political strife. Incumbent Alassane Ouattara seeks a fourth term amidst backlash, while challengers Simone Gbagbo and Jean-Louis Billon appeal to a populace disillusioned by economic growth that has not reached all. With opposition disqualified and rising concerns about security, this election may profoundly impact West Africa's cocoa powerhouse.

Dancing dominates campaign rallies in Ivory Coast but the pulsing energy and fervour belies concerns about the political landscape in the world's largest cocoa producer.

Saturday's presidential vote in the West African nation is as notable for the candidates who have been banned from running as for those who are vying for the top job.

While incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, a hero to some for bringing growth over the last 15 years to a country following a brutal civil war, is facing a backlash from those who see the 83-year-old's fourth-term bid as a slap in the face to democracy - even though his candidacy is allowed by the constitution.

Prominent opposition leader Tidjane Thiam was disqualified in April after a court ruled that he had forfeited his Ivorian citizenship when he became French in 1987 - a ruling that he disputed - while former President Laurent Gbagbo was barred because of a 2018 criminal conviction.

It was Gbagbo's refusal to accept defeat to Ouattara in a run-off vote in 2010 that sparked a post-election conflict that left more than 3,000 people dead and traumatised a nation vital to the global supply of chocolate.

Yet Ouattara, known to his supporters by his initials Ado, still faces strong competition, especially from Gbagbo's former wife, and one of the country's richest men, popular with urban voters - but it is a divided opposition.

There are four candidates up against the octogenarian:

Simone Gbagbo, 76, former first lady, once married to ex-President Laurent Gbagbo and regarded as his main adviser
Jean-Louis Billon, 60, a former minister and one of the country's richest men who made his fortune from palm oil
Henriette Lagou Adjoua, 66, a former minister and prominent women's rights campaigner
Ahoua Don Mello, 67, a former minister and ex-ally of ex-President Gbagbo.

Despite the economic progress under Ouattara, his opponents hope to capitalise on complaints from many of the country's poor, who are not feeling the benefits of the rapid growth.

Billon, the business tycoon and youngest of all the candidates - representing the Democratic Congress (Code) - has said, The economy is growing, but not for us.

Simone Gbagbo, leader of the leftist Movement of Capable Generations (MGC), also seeks to address the issues of poverty and lack of opportunities for the youth.

Unfortunately, tensions have escalated to a point where the government has cracked down on protests, with over 700 demonstrators arrested in recent weeks, reflecting a landscape fraught with fear and hope alike.

This election will not just determine the next leader but may impact the future stability of a nation pivotal to the global cocoa market.