Former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo has vowed to resist Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term, calling it unconstitutional and illegal.
Speaking at a rally in Yopougon, Gbagbo argued that the country’s constitution limits the presidency to two terms and that Ouattara’s third mandate in 2020 was already unlawful.
He denounced the exclusion of opposition leaders, including himself, Guillaume Soro, and PDCI-RDA leader Tidjane Thiam, from the electoral register, while also condemning the recent arrests of his party’s activists.
Despite being barred from running due to a judicial conviction, Gbagbo reaffirmed his intention to contest the October 25 election, describing his candidacy as one “against the fourth term.”
Ouattara, 83, announced his candidacy on July 29, citing unprecedented economic, security, and monetary challenges that he said require experienced leadership.
His supporters argue that the 2016 constitution, which established the Third Republic, reset term limits and allowed him to seek re-election in 2020 as a first mandate under the new framework.
He now considers his 2025 bid to be for a second term under this constitution.
With less than three months to the election, Gbagbo’s defiance sets the stage for a highly polarized campaign in a tense political climate marked by disputes over constitutional interpretation and the fairness of the electoral process.
