In a remarkable and decisive victory, Alassane Ouattara has secured a fourth term as the President of Ivory Coast in a stunning election outcome. According to the provisional results released by the Independent Electoral Commission (CIE) on Monday evening, the 83-year-old leader achieved a resounding 89.77% of the vote, translating to approximately 3.75 million ballots in his favor.
Ouattara's recent electoral campaign saw him pitted against four lesser-known candidates after significant opposition figures, including Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, were barred from running. The candidates who did appear on the ballot included former first lady Simone Gbagbo and three ex-ministers—Jean-Louis Billon, Ahoua Don Mello, and Henriette Lagou Adjoua. However, none were able to significantly challenge Ouattara’s dominance.
This recent victory isn't just a win; it surpasses his margins from previous elections, including his 2015 win when he garnered 83% of the total votes. Notably, Lagou Adjoua, who also ran in 2015, managed to slightly increase her share from 0.89% to 1.15% this time around.
In a concession statement shared on social media, Billon, the former trade minister and the runner-up with 3% of the tally, extended his congratulations to Ouattara based on the partial results he had observed.
Barring any unexpected developments from the Constitutional Council within the required five-day review period, it appears that Ouattara, who has held the presidency since 2011, will continue to govern one of the world's largest cocoa producers until 2030. His leadership has overseen notable economic growth and extensive infrastructure projects, yet it has not been without criticism. Allegations of crony capitalism and efforts to suppress opposition voices have marred his administration's reputation.
Despite having 8.7 million registered voters, the election experienced notably low turnout rates, particularly in urban settings, including the commercial hub of Abidjan. In densely populated areas like Yopougon and Cocody, polling officials reported that fewer than 50 voters had visited polling stations by midday.
The CEI estimated overall voter participation at around 50%, which some observers suggest may have ironically contributed to the election being the most peaceful in years. This is in stark contrast to the events in 2010 when a deadlock occurred following Gbagbo's refusal to concede, resulting in violence that claimed over 3,000 lives. Similarly, during Ouattara’s controversial third term election a decade later, more than 50 lives were lost due to unrest.
Prior to the election, tensions were evident as angry youths vandalized the electoral commission's office in Yamoussoukro, prompting authorities to impose a curfew from 10 PM to 6 AM on election eve and in the aftermath. Leading up to the election, more than 250 protesters faced arrests, with 32 receiving three-year sentences, exacerbating the country’s worrying state of unrest.
Human rights observers raised alarms about the significant presence of security forces before and during the election, expressing concern over the marginalization of key opposition figures and an ongoing crackdown on dissent.
But here’s where it gets controversial—how can a leader maintain such substantial control over the political landscape while facing these serious allegations? Was the low turnout a reflection of public sentiment, or was it a symptom of a deeper disillusionment with the electoral process? We invite you to share your thoughts—do you believe this election truly reflects the will of the Ivorian people, or is it merely a reflection of the politics of exclusion? Your opinions matter, so leave your comments below!
