Longtime President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara has emphasized the essence of voting as his country’s presidential election is underway.
After voting in the suburb of Cocody in the capital city, Ouattara said that he expects provisional results by Sunday.
“It is really important to vote, especially to vote for your President. It is a vote of trust. You have to do this in peace.”
Alassane Ouattara
Voters in Ivory Coast cast ballots today, Saturday, October 25, 2025, to elect a new leader as longtime President Alassane Ouattara seeks a fourth term, while his key contenders were barred from the race.
Ballot stations opened shortly after 08:00 GMT following initial delays. Some 8.7 million people registered to vote. There appeared to be a low turnout of voters in many ballot stations hours after voting commenced, according to reporters on-site. The country’s last two elections saw a voter turnout of slightly above 50%.
Five candidates are jostling for Ivory Coast’s top job, but many see Ouattara, the 83-year-old leader of the world’s biggest producer of cocoa, retaining his seat.
If he wins, he will extend his rule to almost two decades. Ouattara’s party, the Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace, or RHDP, also holds a majority of seats in parliament.
Four candidates challenge Ouattara, including Simone Gbagbo, a former first lady, and Jean-Louis Billion, a former Commerce Minister under Ouattara. They have all promised jobs and new agricultural policies. Analysts have said none has any strong chance of winning.
The buildup to the election has been marred by protests against the exclusion of major candidates who could pose a challenge to Ouattara.
The final list of registered candidates did not include Tidjane Thiam, a former Credit Suisse executive, and Laurent Gbagbo, a former candidate who still retains the support of a large section of voters.
Their supporters had taken to the streets, with several hundred people arrested. The crackdown has raised the specter of past electoral crises that left at least 3,000 people dead in 2010 and 2011, and almost 100 in 2020.
The disqualification of the key opposition candidates cast doubts on the credibility of the vote. Opposition supporters have accused the Independent Electoral Commission of working in favour of the ruling party.
Ouattara has denied a crackdown on the opposition. He has attracted less scrutiny from the international community and from longtime partner and former colonial ruler France.
At his final rally in Abidjan on Thursday, Ouattara told his supporters: “The growth has been huge, but we need to continue.”A former deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund, Ouatarra’s investment in the public sector and infrastructure has endeared him to his supporters.
About 44,000 security forces were deployed across the country to keep protests in check, especially in opposition strongholds in the south and west. A night-time curfew was in place on Friday and Saturday in the region where the political capital, Yamoussoukro, is located.
Ivory Coast Election Latest Example Aging Men Holding On To Power
The election is the latest example of aging men continuing to hold power in Africa, which boasts the youngest population in the world.
Cameroon’s Paul Biya, 92, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, 81, and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Mbasogo, 83, are some other older African leaders still in power.
Ouattara, an octogenarian has wielded power in the world’s top cocoa producer since 2011 when the country began reasserting itself as a West African economic powerhouse.
Under the constitution, Presidents may serve a maximum of two terms. Ouattara argues a major constitutional change implemented in 2016 “reset” his limit.
The decision has angered his detractors. Opposition and civil society groups also complain of restrictions on Ouattara’s critics and a climate of fear.
Vote counting will begin immediately after the polls close. To win, a candidate must take an absolute majority of the votes. A second round will take place if no one clears that hurdle.
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