The campaign season in Ivory Coast has reached its final stretch, filled with music, color, and intense political passion. Yet beneath the dancing and jubilant crowds lies deep anxiety about the country’s political future.
Ivorians head to the polls on Saturday in a presidential election that many describe as one of the most consequential in years. The contest has already been marked by controversy over who is allowed to compete.
Several major figures have been disqualified from the race, sparking accusations of exclusion and bias in a nation still healing from past political turmoil.
At the center of the storm is President Alassane Ouattara, 83, who is seeking a fourth term in office. To supporters, he is the man who rebuilt the economy after civil war. To critics, his decision to run again is a setback for democracy.
Two key opposition leaders have been barred from the ballot. Former Prime Minister Tidjane Thiam was ruled ineligible after a court decided he forfeited his Ivorian citizenship when he became French decades ago. Former President Laurent Gbagbo was also disqualified due to a 2018 criminal conviction.
It was Gbagbo’s refusal to concede defeat to Ouattara in 2010 that triggered a violent post-election crisis, claiming more than 3,000 lives. The memory of that conflict still shapes political debate in the world’s largest cocoa producer.
Despite the bans, four challengers are pressing ahead against Ouattara. They include Simone Gbagbo, 76, the former first lady and long-time political strategist; Jean-Louis Billon, 60, one of the country’s richest businessmen; Henriette Lagou Adjoua, a prominent women’s rights advocate; and Ahoua Don Mello, a veteran politician and former minister.
Ouattara’s ruling party, the RHDP, highlights economic growth, infrastructure expansion, and investor confidence as the president’s key achievements.
But opposition candidates say these gains have not translated into real benefits for ordinary Ivorians. Billon, who heads the Democratic Congress party, has emerged as the loudest voice calling for generational change.
“The economy is growing, but not for us,” Billon said at a rally in Yamoussoukro. Dancing before a cheering crowd, he demonstrated martial arts moves, declaring himself “fit for leadership and ready to fight for jobs.”
Billon argues that unemployment, inflation, and rising costs have left millions behind despite the government’s success in attracting foreign investment.
Simone Gbagbo has also tapped into public frustration. Once known as “the iron lady” for her tough political style, she now presents herself as a champion of education and youth empowerment.
At her rallies, she appears in vibrant traditional attire, smiling broadly as she addresses crowds that chant her name. Her speeches focus on rebuilding schools and reviving social welfare programs.
“President Ouattara did some good things, but he destroyed our education system,” she told The Africa Standard.
Henriette Lagou Adjoua, meanwhile, has won praise among civil society groups for making gender equality and women’s participation central to her platform.
While enthusiasm for the campaign is high, security concerns remain. Over 700 protesters were arrested this month during an opposition rally, and 50 people were sentenced to three years in prison.
The government has deployed additional police and soldiers across major cities to maintain order during and after the vote.
Some residents of Abidjan say they plan to leave the city before election day, fearing possible unrest. “Each election brings fighting and deaths,” said Ahoua Diomande, a mother of two.
Others are more hopeful. “I know everything will go well,” said Charm Matuba, an Abidjan resident originally from Congo-Brazzaville. “Ivorians don’t want to die again for politicians. Simone can bring real change.”
Regional loyalties are expected to play a key role once again. Ouattara remains dominant in the north among Dioula-speaking voters, while Gbagbo’s influence continues in the west and south.
Billon’s message of modernization and economic renewal resonates most in urban areas and central regions. Young voters in particular view him as a symbol of a new political generation.
“He represents the future,” said 19-year-old voter Salifou Sanogo. “Ouattara is too old. Billon will create jobs and give us hope.”
Neither Thiam nor Gbagbo has endorsed a candidate, though Gbagbo’s former ally Charles Blé Goudé has publicly urged supporters to rally behind Simone Gbagbo. “Bring Simone to the palace,” he told a cheering crowd of his Young Patriot movement.
Foreign policy has also emerged as a contentious issue. Ivory Coast’s tough stance toward the military regimes in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso has strained regional ties.
Ouattara’s critics accuse him of being too close to France, while rivals such as Ahoua Don Mello argue that Ivory Coast should strengthen ties with Russia and China to balance its diplomacy.
As the campaign draws to a close, Ivorians face a familiar crossroads. Ouattara’s supporters call for stability and continuity, while his challengers promise renewal and change.
Whether this election cements progress or reignites division may depend not only on the winner but on how the nation accepts the results.
