The President of Côte d’Ivoire bets on the economy to win a fourth term policy

Cote d’Ivoire’s President, Alassane Ouattara, 83, is seeking a fourth presidential term in elections scheduled for Saturday, pledging to build on nearly 15 years of continuous economic growth, while his opponents criticize him as seeking to consolidate his rule and suppress dissent.

Ouattara, who has strong party support, is competing with two former ministers, along with the wife of former President Laurent Gbagbo and his former spokeswoman.

Ouattara is considered the most likely candidate due to the absence of prominent rivals such as Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, who were barred from running. Thiam described the race as an “inauguration ceremony” for Ouattara.

Ouattara came to power following a four-month civil war in 2010, sparked by ethnic tensions and Gbagbo’s refusal to recognize the election results.

Focus on youth employment

As a former international banker and Deputy Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund, Ouattara helped make Côte d’Ivoire one of the fastest growing economies in the region, with strong performance of its international bonds.

Ouattara concluded political deals that enabled him to win twice, and oversaw constitutional amendments that allowed him to exceed presidential term limits, which sparked the anger of his opponents who accuse him of undermining democratic institutions and lacking justice in the distribution of growth.

Government spokesman and former Prime Minister, Patrick Ashe, said that economic recovery is the focus of Ouattara’s campaign, noting that the country was suffering from a collapse in the educational, health and infrastructure systems, and that the government had rebuilt these sectors.

He added that the fourth term will focus on attracting private investments to provide job opportunities for about 400,000 graduates annually, warning that the inability of the private sector to absorb them may pose a threat.

Massive arrests and security deployment

At a pro-Ouattara rally in Abidjan’s Yopougon neighbourhood, Lassine Cisse, a postal employee, said Ouattara deserved credit for providing stability in a region plagued by coups and rebellions.

He added, “Look at Guinea and Niger. They have rich resources, but coups hinder their progress. But here, after the vote, everyone will go to nightclubs because there is peace.”

But Dominic Yabu, a cooking gas distributor, said economic growth had not reached the general public, and the cost of living had risen.

He added, “We feel that nothing is being done to improve the situation, and that Ouattara’s supporters are the ones who get jobs easily.”

Despite allowing rallies for Ouattara’s opponents, the government deployed 44,000 members of the security forces across the country and imposed a ban on protests that Amnesty International described as “excessive.”

Hundreds have already been arrested, and the Ministry of Interior reported that dozens had been sentenced to up to three years in prison on charges including disturbing public order.

Justice Minister Sansan Kambili said in a statement last week that the restrictions are temporary and limited to the election period, stressing the government’s commitment to freedom of assembly.

On Saturday, October 25, 2025, Côte d’Ivoire will witness decisive presidential elections, amid a tense political scene and limited competition, after the Constitutional Council accepted the candidacy of only 5 out of 60 candidates who submitted their files.