Ouattara Wins Landslide Fourth Term as Ivory Coast President

President Alassane Ouattara has secured a resounding fourth term victory in Ivory Coast’s presidential election, winning 89.77 percent of the votes, according to results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission on Monday.

The election, held on Saturday, saw nearly nine million Ivorians eligible to vote in the world’s leading cocoa-producing nation.

However, the poll was marred by controversy after Ouattara’s two main challengers were barred from contesting, sparking accusations of political repression and raising concerns over the country’s democratic health.

Despite tensions and sporadic unrest in parts of the country before the vote, turnout was reportedly high in Ouattara’s northern strongholds, where figures approached nearly 100 percent.

The president’s supporters celebrated the outcome, describing it as a reaffirmation of his leadership and his government’s economic achievements over the past decade.

Opposition groups, however, dismissed the election as a “one-man race,” accusing the authorities of undermining political pluralism by disqualifying key opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro. Both men were excluded from the ballot due to legal and judicial issues.

Ouattara, who first came to power in 2011 after a bloody post-election conflict, has defended his decision to seek another term, arguing that a constitutional amendment in 2020 reset his term limits.

He pledged to continue focusing on economic reforms, national reconciliation, and strengthening security amid the persistent threat of jihadist incursions from the Sahel.

International observers noted that while the voting process appeared peaceful in most areas, the broader political environment remained fraught.

Several Western governments and regional bodies have urged Ouattara to use his new mandate to foster dialogue and reconciliation in the divided West African nation.