Vote counting is underway in Ivory Coast following a tense and closely watched presidential election held on October 25, 2025, with incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, age 83, widely expected to secure a controversial fourth term. The poll, which saw five candidates vying for the country’s top job, was marked by the absence of two major opposition figures, raising questions about the fairness and competitiveness of the race.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission, about 8.7 million Ivorians were registered to vote out of a population of roughly 30 to 33 million, as reported by Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and BBC. While the commission announced a preliminary turnout of 50%, actual participation appeared much lower in major urban centers like Abidjan, with observers and residents noting sparse crowds at several polling stations. This lower turnout echoed predictions from analysts who anticipated widespread voter apathy, especially after opposition leaders called for a boycott of the election.
The exclusion of key opposition candidates—former President Laurent Gbagbo, barred due to a criminal conviction, and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, disqualified over dual citizenship—became a flashpoint in the run-up to the vote. Their absence not only drew protests but led to the arrest of over 700 demonstrators and the imprisonment of 50 people, according to BBC. Both Gbagbo and Thiam refused to endorse other opposition candidates, instead urging their supporters to abstain from voting. Thiam described the election as the “coronation” of President Ouattara, a sentiment echoed by many critics who saw the disqualifications as clearing the path for the incumbent’s victory. Civil society leader Pulchérie Gbalet voiced skepticism about the integrity of the process, stating, “It is clear that from the outset, there has been no election ... because the Constitutional Council chose the candidates on political grounds and eliminated the others in a dishonest and unfair manner.”
Despite these tensions, the election itself was largely peaceful, with the joint ECOWAS-African Union observer mission describing the atmosphere as “calm and peaceful.” Authorities deployed approximately 44,000 security personnel across the country to safeguard polling stations and prevent unrest, particularly in regions with strong opposition support. Night-time curfews were imposed on October 24 and 25 in the Yamoussoukro region, the country’s political capital, to forestall any repeat of the violence that marred previous elections. In 2010, post-election conflict claimed more than 3,000 lives, and unrest following the 2020 polls resulted in at least 85 official deaths—though opposition groups claimed the toll was much higher.
Incidents of vandalism were reported in some areas, notably in the central town of Zaguiéta, where ballot boxes and election materials were destroyed by protesters opposed to the election. However, these disruptions were limited, and the broader voting process proceeded without major violence. Reporting from Abidjan, Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris observed, “In the early hours of voting, we saw some kind of apathy. But as the day wore on, we saw numbers picking up across the city. And that’s the same story that we’ve been hearing from other parts of the country.”
President Ouattara, who has led the world’s largest cocoa producer since 2011, cast his ballot in the Cocody suburb of Abidjan and described the poll as a “vote of trust.” He urged citizens, “It is really important to vote, especially to vote for your president. ... You have to do this in peace.” Ouattara’s supporters point to his record of economic reconstruction following the civil war, with annual growth rates averaging 6%—a boom largely powered by cocoa exports. Yet, despite these gains, 37.5% of Ivorians continue to live in poverty, and unemployment remains a pressing issue, particularly among the youth.
The constitution of Ivory Coast technically limits presidents to two terms, but Ouattara has argued that a 2016 constitutional revision reset his term count, making him eligible to run again. This interpretation has sparked protests and drawn criticism from opposition and civil society groups, who accuse the government of stifling dissent and curtailing democratic freedoms. The government has responded by banning demonstrations and cracking down on unrest, with dozens sentenced to three years in prison for disturbing the peace.
With the main opposition leaders sidelined, the remaining four candidates—Simone Gbagbo (76), former first lady and ex-wife of Laurent Gbagbo; Jean-Louis Billon (60), a wealthy businessman and former trade minister; Henriette Lagou Adjoua (66), a former minister and women’s rights advocate; and Ahoua Don Mello (67), a civil engineer and Pan-Africanist—faced an uphill battle against the well-established machinery of Ouattara’s Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party. None of these challengers represented an established party with nationwide reach, further diminishing their chances.
Regional and demographic divides shaped the race. Ouattara enjoys strong backing from Dioula-speaking communities in the north, while Simone Gbagbo draws support from the west and southwest, traditional strongholds of her ex-husband’s party. Billon, popular among urban voters and in the central regions, campaigned on promises of modernization and generational change. For many young Ivorians, the prospect of new leadership was appealing. Salifou Sanogo, a 19-year-old first-time voter, told BBC, “He represents the young generation. It will be my first time to vote and seriously, I know he will win. Ouattara is too old and tired and is not doing anything for us. We need change, it’s Billon we need.”
Yet, the opposition remained fragmented, with neither Thiam nor Gbagbo rallying behind any of the remaining candidates. Simone Gbagbo, for her part, secured the endorsement of Charles Blé Goudé, a former ally of her ex-husband, who decided not to run himself.
As the world’s top cocoa producer, Ivory Coast’s stability is critical not just for its own citizens but for the global chocolate supply chain. The international community, including former colonial power France, has taken a relatively hands-off approach this time, with some analysts noting that other geopolitical priorities have reduced external scrutiny of the election. “The geopolitical context is favorable to him,” said Séverin Yao Kouamé, a research professor at the University of Bouaké, reflecting on Ouattara’s position.
With results expected between Sunday and Monday, the country awaits confirmation of an outcome many see as a foregone conclusion. For now, Ivorians are left to ponder whether this election brings them closer to the peace, wisdom, and change that so many desire—or simply extends the status quo under one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
