Alassane Ouattara Claims Fourth Term Amid Controversial Election in Ivory Coast

Mon Nov 10 2025 21:56:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a highly contested election, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara secures a fourth term as his main opponents were barred from running, prompting dissent among opposition supporters.

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara, aged 83, has been declared the winner of the presidential election with a significant majority of 89.8%. His main rivals, former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, were barred from participating, leading to claims of an election boycott. With a voter turnout of just 50.1%, the opposition has denounced the election as a 'civilian coup d'état'. Final results are pending further announcements from the Constitutional Council amid ongoing political tensions.

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has secured a fourth term in an election which two of his biggest challengers were barred from, provisional results show.

Ouattara, 83, won 89.8% of the vote, the electoral commission announced on Monday, with businessman Jeal-Louis Billon coming a distant second with only 3.09%.

The landslide victory is not entirely unexpected, as after being banned from the presidential race, former President Laurent Gbagbo and Credit Suisse ex-CEO Tidjane Thiam had urged their supporters to boycott the vote.

Voter turnout reached just 50.1%, according to the electoral commission.

Monday's results are provisional and the final outcome will be announced by the Constitutional Council after it rules on any election petitions.

On Sunday, the opposition group made up of Gbagbo and Thiam's parties denounced the election as a civilian coup d'etat, stating they would not recognize Ouattara as a validly elected leader.

Ouattara first assumed the presidency in 2011, following Gbagbo's arrest after his refusal to accept defeat in the 2010 election.

Originally restricted to serving two terms, a 2016 constitutional overhaul allowed Ouattara to seek re-election in 2020, which was boycotted by the opposition.