Pecohub Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has secured a fourth term in office, winning 89.77% of the vote in an election marked by controversy and tension, according to provisional results announced by the electoral commission on Monday, AFP reports.
The election, which saw nearly nine million voters cast their ballots, was notable for the absence of Ouattara’s two main rivals, Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, who were barred from running.
Despite this, Ouattara’s victory was not unexpected, with early tallies showing him winning over 90% of the vote in some areas.
Turnout varied significantly across the country, with near-100% participation in Ouattara’s northern strongholds, but much lower numbers in traditionally pro-opposition areas in the south and parts of Abidjan, the economic hub.
Ouattara, 83, has been credited with guiding Ivory Coast towards stability and economic growth since taking office in 2011. However, his decision to seek a fourth term has been met with protests and criticism, with some accusing him of consolidating power.
Entrepreneur Jean-Louis Billon came second to the veteran leader with 3.09 percent, said commission president Ibrahime Kuibiert Coulibaly, who announced a 50.10 percent turnout — similar to 2020, when Ouattara won 94 percent of the vote in an election boycotted by his main opponents.
This time, Ouattara’s leading rivals — former president Laurent Gbagbo and Credit Suisse ex-CEO Tidjane Thiam — were both barred from contesting, Gbagbo due to a criminal conviction and Thiam for having acquired French nationality.
“Their absence, their calls not to participate in the election, and the climate of tension that deteriorated in recent days foretold a significant demobilisation of the electorate,” said William Assanvo, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
In the southern city of Gagnoa, Gbagbo’s former stronghold, Ouattara won 92 percent of the vote, but with a turnout rate of only 20 percent.
The opposition has already denied “any legitimacy” to Ouattara’s victory and has called for new elections.
Political analyst Geoffroy Kouao believes “the turnout rate shows two things.”
“First, Mr. Ouattara’s supporters turned out in force, as shown by the Soviet-esque results in certain regions,” Kouao said.
“And second, supporters of Gbagbo and Thiam’s parties did not go to the polls.”
Billon also expressed concern on Sunday about “very low turnout in some regions,” while still offering congratulations to Ouattara.
Billon and the other candidates on the ballot — including former first lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo — stood little chance of reaching a second round due to a lack of backing from major parties or significant financial resources.
Earlier calls for protests by the main opposition had led to deadly unrest in the run-up to the election, with at least eight people killed this month and nearly two dozen injured in election-day clashes at some 200 polling stations.
The government had declared a nighttime curfew in some areas and deployed 44,000 security forces nationwide.
Presidential elections in Ivory Coast are often fraught with tension and unrest. Ouattara first came to power following the 2010–2011 post-election crisis between him and Laurent Gbagbo, which left more than 3,000 people dead among their supporters.
On Monday, Abidjan returned to near-normal activity after the capital was unusually deserted over the weekend.
“The Ivorians said NO to prophets of doom,” headlined Patriote, a pro-Ouattara newspaper, praising “a calm election.”
The opposition daily Notre Voie, however, described it as “an election reflecting a divided country.”
