Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has officially announced his candidacy for the October 25, 2025, presidential election, a move the opposition denounces as an unconstitutional fourth term.
In a televised address, Ouattara justified his decision by citing the country’s constitution, his good health, and what he described as pressing national challenges—particularly in security, economic stability, and regional terrorism—that demand experienced leadership.
He added that this term would prepare the ground for a generational transition, assuring Ivorians of continued peace and prosperity.
Ouattara, first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2015 and 2020, was recently reaffirmed as the candidate of his party, RHDP.
His declaration has sparked sharp criticism from opposition figures, including exiled former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, who dismissed the announcement as unsurprising and condemned it as a violation of democratic norms.
Soro warned that the current political climate—marked by alleged repression of opposition voices, manipulation of the electoral list, and weakened democratic institutions—risks plunging Côte d’Ivoire into renewed instability.
