President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast has left the nation on edge after declining to confirm whether he will seek a fourth term in the upcoming October 2025 presidential election, despite being officially endorsed by his party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP). At the RHDP’s national congress held on Sunday in Abidjan, delegates unanimously urged the 82-year-old leader to stand again, praising his economic track record and framing his leadership as critical to stability in a region plagued by coups and unrest. Ouattara, however, stopped short of accepting the nomination, instead requesting “a few weeks” to consult with family, allies, and the broader public before making a final decision.
“I have heard your call,” Ouattara told party members. “I ask for your patience. I will give you my answer soon.” The delay has reignited constitutional debates and political tensions in the West African country. While Ouattara’s supporters argue that his leadership has delivered sustained economic growth and vital infrastructure improvements, opposition groups—including the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) and the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI)—warn that a fourth term would violate democratic norms and undermine national unity.
Critics also point to the 2016 constitutional reform, which reset term limits, allowing Ouattara to run for a controversial third term in 2020—a move that triggered deadly protests and deepened political divisions. Opposition leaders and civil society activists have labeled any further candidacy a “democratic regression” and called on regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union to uphold term limits and electoral integrity. With the 2025 vote just months away, uncertainty over Ouattara’s candidacy is dominating the political landscape, potentially delaying alliances, campaign strategies, and candidacy announcements by key opposition figures. Observers say the president’s decision could either defuse or inflame tensions in a country that has endured two civil wars since the turn of the century.
Ivory Coast remains one of West Africa’s largest economies, and the conduct of its next presidential election is being closely watched across the continent and beyond, especially amid growing concerns over democratic backsliding in the region.
