Vote counting was underway in Ivory Coast on Sunday after a presidential election that is widely expected to hand a fourth term to incumbent Alassane Ouattara, a contest boycotted by opposition groups who decried it as illegitimate.
The 83-year-old president faced four lesser-known rivals after the exclusion of his main political opponents paved the way for a controversial mandate extension. Former president Laurent Gbagbo was barred due to a criminal conviction, and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam was disqualified for having acquired French citizenship.
The opposition cried foul, calling the exclusions a manoeuvre to guarantee Ouattara’s victory and urging supporters to stay away from the polls. Voter turnout was seen as a critical barometer for the credibility of the process.
In the economic hub of Abidjan, the atmosphere at polling stations was calm. Early morning queues were sparse, but officials reported a gradual increase in voter activity as the day progressed.
“This vote means a lot to us,” said Konate Adama, a voter at the Riviera Golf 1 Primary School. “We need a candidate to emerge from these elections who will lead us towards peace, wisdom and tranquillity.”
None of Ouattara’s challengers on the ballot represented a major established party. They included agribusinessman and former minister Jean-Louis Billon, former First Lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, and two other candidates splitting the left-wing vote.
To avoid a runoff, a candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote. With results anticipated early next week, observers project Ouattara will clinch a first-round victory.
Ouattara, who has led the world’s top cocoa-producing nation since 2011, justified his candidacy by arguing that a constitutional reset in 2016 allowed him to restart his term limit clock. The constitution mandates a two-term maximum.
The decision has deepened political tensions in a nation still healing from a brief civil war that killed at least 3,000 people following the 2010 election. More recent elections have also been marred by violence; the 2020 presidential poll saw dozens killed in clashes.
Authorities, seeking to prevent a repeat of that unrest, deployed 44,000 security forces nationwide and banned opposition demonstrations. A night-time curfew was imposed in the region surrounding the political capital, Yamoussoukro.
The government said the measures were necessary to maintain order, pointing to an incident on Monday where an electoral commission office was set on fire. The judiciary has sentenced several dozen people to prison for disturbing the peace.
Despite the heavy security presence, the lead-up to the vote was dominated by debates over the legitimacy of Ouattara’s candidacy, casting a shadow over an election meant to reaffirm the stability of the West African economic powerhouse.
