Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire · 28 October 2025 — Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara was declared the winner of Côte d'Ivoire's presidential election on 27 October 2025, securing 89.77 percent of the vote according to provisional results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission. At 83 years old, Ouattara is set for a fourth term as president of the West African nation, extending a 14-year rule that has drawn increasing scrutiny over democratic backsliding.
The announcement by Ibrahime Kuibiert Coulibaly, chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), came as no surprise to observers. Ouattara's four remaining challengers — none of whom commanded significant national support — collected between 1 and 3 percent of votes cast. The election was held on 25 October 2025.
The Barred Opposition
The election's outcome was effectively predetermined by the disqualification of Ouattara's two most prominent potential challengers. Tidjane Thiam, former chief executive of Credit Suisse and current president of the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire — African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the main opposition party, was barred from standing for having acquired French nationality. Laurent Gbagbo, former president who was ousted in 2011 after refusing to accept election results, was barred due to a criminal conviction.
Low Voter Turnout
Of the nearly 9 million registered voters, approximately 4.5 million cast ballots, resulting in a voter turnout of 50 percent — one of the lowest in the country's election history. In the 2020 presidential election, turnout was 53 percent. The low participation rate reflects both the trauma of past electoral violence and the demobilization of an electorate that saw the outcome as predetermined.
Political analyst Nazaire Kadja told DW that voter turnout varied significantly by region: "We'd like to point out that voter turnout for this election was mixed. High in the northern regions, very low in the south and west." The regional divide reflects Côte d'Ivoire's enduring political geography, with the north generally supportive of Ouattara's RHDP party and the south historically aligned with opposition forces.
William Assanvo, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Dakar, Senegal, offered context for the low turnout:
"Their absence, their calls not to participate in the election and the climate of tension that deteriorated in recent days foretold a significant demobilization of the electorate."
The Shadow of Past Violence
For many Ivorians, presidential elections remain synonymous with political and inter-community tensions. The 2010 election resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths when Ouattara stood against then-President Laurent Gbagbo, and it was only after months of fierce fighting, with the help of the French military, that Ouattara could be sworn into office. In the 2020 presidential election, 85 deaths were reported.
In the 2025 election, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) recorded six deaths during the campaign and another four on election day. Opposition groups put the number at seven. While significantly less violent than previous contests, the persistence of election-related deaths underscores the fragility of Ivorian democracy.
| Election Year | Voter Turnout | Reported Deaths | Key Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 81.5% | ~3,000 | Post-election crisis, French military intervention |
| 2020 | 53.0% | 85 | Boycott by major opposition, contested third term |
| 2025 | 50.0% | 10 (CNDH) | Opposition leaders barred, fourth term |
Opposition Condemnation
Tidjane Thiam delivered an emotional statement denouncing what he described as a violation of democratic rules:
"What has just happened is not a real election and what we have witnessed is not a credit to our country. The facts are clear. President Alassane Ouattara ran for a controversial fourth term. This electoral exercise has divided our country. Today, unfortunately, divisions have deepened, and communities are pitted against each other."
Thiam described the conduct of the election as having "trampled on the elementary principles of democracy," compromising the credibility of the electoral process and the country's political stability. He alluded to incidents in the south and west of the country, saying "horror is back in some parts of the country."
Cherif Osman, a young executive of the PDCI-RDA, called for a re-run election, arguing that only a new inclusive election can restore voters' confidence and strengthen the government's legitimacy. "We call on him to resume the electoral process in a spirit of inclusion, fairness and peace," Osman said.
The Fourth Term Question
Ouattara's candidacy for a fourth term was made possible by a constitutional referendum in 2016 that he said reset his term count to zero. The referendum, which passed with 93 percent support amid an opposition boycott, effectively rewrote the constitutional limits on presidential terms. Critics argue that the referendum was itself conducted under unfair conditions and that the term reset violates the spirit if not the letter of constitutional governance.
A Regional Pattern
Côte d'Ivoire's election occurred in the same month as Tanzania's equally disputed general election, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan won 97.66 percent of the vote after the main opposition parties were barred. The simultaneous occurrence of elections with excluded opposition in two of Africa's largest economies represents a concerning regional pattern.
In both cases, incumbents used institutional and legal mechanisms — electoral commission rulings, constitutional technicalities, criminal charges against opposition figures — to eliminate competition while maintaining a formal democratic process. This strategy of "competitive authoritarianism" or "electoral authoritarianism" allows governments to claim democratic legitimacy while systematically undermining the conditions for genuine political competition.
The African Union has deployed election observation missions across the continent, but its ability to enforce democratic standards remains limited by the principle of non-interference in member states' internal affairs. The organization's African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance provides a normative framework, but enforcement mechanisms are weak and dependent on political will from member states.
Economic Context
Despite the political concerns, Côte d'Ivoire's economy has performed strongly under Ouattara. The country has maintained annual GDP growth rates of 6-8 percent for much of his tenure, making it one of Africa's economic success stories. Abidjan has re-established itself as a major commercial hub for West Africa, and the country is the world's largest cocoa producer.
However, the economic gains have not been evenly distributed. The south and west of the country — regions that have historically supported opposition parties — report lower levels of development and higher levels of poverty. The political exclusion of these regions' preferred candidates risks deepening existing grievances and creating conditions for future instability.
Looking Ahead
The next government will once again face the task of reconciling Ivorians after a divisive election — a situation that recalls the circumstances surrounding Ouattara's first election in 2010. The risk is that each contested election deepens communal divisions and erodes the institutional trust necessary for democratic consolidation.
For the international community, the challenge is balancing engagement with an economically important partner against concerns about democratic governance. The European Union and the United States, both significant partners, have expressed concern about the conduct of the election but have stopped short of threatening sanctions or other punitive measures.
Sources
- DW, "Cote d'Ivoire: Is Ouattara's reelection a setback?" 28 October 2025. Available at:
- Al Jazeera, "Incumbent President Ouattara declared winner of Ivory Coast election," 27 October 2025. Available at:
- Xinhua, "Alassane Ouattara wins Cote d'Ivoire's presidential election," 28 October 2025. Available at:
- The Conversation, "Côte d'Ivoire's democratic backslide: elections leave even less space for freedom," 2025. Available at:
- Georgetown University GSSR, "Côte d'Ivoire's 2025 Election: Sacrificing Long-Term Stability for Short-Term Gains," 2025. Available at:
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