Abidjan: Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has won a fourth consecutive term in office with a sweeping victory, according to provisional results released on Monday. The 83-year-old leader, who has governed the West African nation for over a decade, secured nearly 90% of the vote, extending his political dominance after key rivals were barred from contesting.
Ouattara, a former international banker and deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), first came to power in 2011 following a fiercely disputed election that triggered a civil conflict and left about 3,000 people dead. Since then, his government has maintained relative peace and economic progress in the world’s largest cocoa-producing country.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission, former Commerce Minister Jean-Louis Billon received around 3% of the votes, while Simone Gbagbo, ex–first lady and widow of former President Laurent Gbagbo, garnered just over 2%. Voter turnout was close to 50%, consistent with recent elections but significantly lower than the 2010 polls, which saw nearly 80% participation.
Opposition candidates struggled to mount a serious challenge after several major political figures — including Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse — were disqualified from the race. Their exclusion left Ouattara’s path to victory largely unopposed.
While Simone Gbagbo reportedly congratulated Ouattara following the announcement, discontent simmered among other opponents. Thiam criticized the process, calling it “an election without competition,” and argued that voter apathy reflected widespread public disillusionment. “Everything was arranged to ensure Ouattara’s victory,” said Arsene Kanga, a factory worker in Abidjan.
Political analysts say the outcome underscores a broader decline in civic participation. “Many Ivorians no longer see politics as a route to change,” observed Rinaldo Dipagne, deputy director of the Africa Program at the International Crisis Group.
The Constitutional Council is expected to formally confirm the results in the coming days.
Focus on Economic Growth and Transition of Power
In his victory address, Ouattara pledged to maintain economic stability, attract new investment, and prepare the nation for a “smooth transition to a new generation of leadership.” However, observers note that his party remains divided and lacks a clear successor.
“If Ouattara does not designate a successor soon, Ivory Coast could face a leadership vacuum similar to the crisis that followed the death of founding President Félix Houphouët-Boigny,” warned Dipagne.
The latest polls were held amid tight security, with 44,000 personnel deployed nationwide. Protests in several cities were quickly contained, and authorities imposed curfews in parts of Yamoussoukro to prevent unrest. The Interior Ministry confirmed that dozens of demonstrators received short prison sentences for public order offences.
Despite criticism from human rights groups over restrictions on protests, the government insisted that maintaining stability was its top priority.
