Abidjan, Ivory Coast – President Alassane Ouattara has called on the country’s youth to turn out in large numbers for the Ivory Coast 2025 presidential election, saying he remains the candidate most committed to improving their welfare.
The West African nation of 32 million people, one of the region’s top economic powerhouses, heads to the polls on Saturday, with the 83-year-old Ouattara seeking another term in office against four other candidates.
The election comes at a time of growing political tension after key opposition figures including former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam were barred from contesting.
Ouattara, who changed the Ivory Coast constitution in 2016 to remove presidential term limits, is widely viewed by analysts as the frontrunner, facing limited competition. He has pledged to focus on national security, youth employment, and economic stability if re-elected.
However, opposition leaders accuse the government of suppressing democracy and argue that the exclusion of top rivals was designed to pave the way for Ouattara’s victory.
The decision has triggered protests in Abidjan and other cities, with authorities deploying security forces to disperse demonstrators. Human rights groups say hundreds of protesters have been arrested, and several have already been sentenced to prison.
The outcome of the Ivory Coast presidential election will be closely watched across West Africa, where questions of leadership succession and constitutional reform continue to shape regional politics.
