Candidates in Ivory Coast’s presidential election held their final rallies on Thursday, October 23 ahead of Saturday, October 25, elections, with President Alassane Ouattara seeking a fourth term in office in the West African nation of about 30 million people.
Ouattara, 83, who is running under the ruling Rassemblement des Houphouetistes pour la Paix party, is campaigning on the slogan “For a Great Nation.”
His main challengers include former commerce minister Jean-Louis Billon and former first lady Simone Gbagbo.
More than 8.7 million voters are registered for the poll, which comes amid political tension following the disqualification of key opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam. Their exclusion sparked protests that led to several arrests and injuries.
At his final campaign rally in Abidjan, Ouattara said his government had delivered economic and infrastructure growth and promised to continue focusing on job creation and youth empowerment.
“I have always been committed to offering the best to our youth so that you can start businesses, work, learn, and be independent,” he told supporters.
Other candidates also made their last appeals to voters. Simone Gbagbo held her final rally in Aboisso, in the eastern part of the country, while Jean-Louis Billon, a former commerce minister, held his rally in Bouake, in the central region.
Authorities have deployed about 40,000 security officers nationwide to maintain peace during the election period. Past polls in the country have been marked by violence, including post-election unrest in 2010–2011 that left around 3,000 people dead.
Ivory Coast’s electoral commission says it has taken measures to ensure a transparent process, while international observers from the African Union and ECOWAS have been accredited to monitor the vote.
Economic growth and youth employment remain key issues in the election. Despite the country’s status as the world’s top cocoa producer and one of West Africa’s largest economies, the World Bank estimates that about 37% of Ivorians live in poverty, and most of the population is under 35.
Analysts say stability will be critical for the country as it faces regional security challenges linked to militant activity in parts of West Africa.
The results of Saturday’s vote are expected to be announced in the coming days by the Independent Electoral Commission.
