KEY POINTS
- RHDP urges President Ouattara to run for a fourth term.
- Ouattara had previously stated he would step down.
- Past elections led to violence over constitutional disputes.
Ivory Coast’s ruling party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), is calling on President Alassane Ouattara to run for a fourth term in the 2025 elections. The 82-year-old leader, who has governed the country since 2011, previously stated his intention to step down but hinted he might reconsider if his political opponents also retired from politics.
Top officials within the RHDP passed a motion to ensure the party remains the “undisputed winner” in the 2025 presidential election under Ouattara’s leadership. Several cabinet members, speaking anonymously, emphasized that the party currently has no other viable candidate, urging Ouattara to reconsider his decision to step aside.
One of the ministers said, “We’ve told him that supporters don’t want anyone else but him, and we’re aligning ourselves with this choice. He has no choice but to accept and be our candidate in 2025.”
Political stability and challenges
Ouattara’s time in power has brought relative stability to Ivory Coast, but his decision to seek a third term in 2020 was met with significant opposition.
Dozens of people were killed in clashes that erupted during that year’s election, as former presidents Laurent Gbagbo and Henri Konan Bedie argued that his bid for a third term violated the constitution. They boycotted the election in protest.
Ouattara, initially promising to step down in 2020, reconsidered his decision after the sudden death of his chosen successor, former Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly. He eventually ran again after the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of his candidacy. According to Reuters, Ouattara has argued that a new constitution, approved in 2016, reset the two-term limit, but his opponents continue to dispute this interpretation.
Despite the controversial circumstances surrounding his third term, Ouattara has maintained support from his party. Officials claim that many supporters believe only he can ensure stability and continue the progress Ivory Coast has made since he took office in 2011.
Opposition concerns and future campaign
The push for Ouattara’s candidacy could reignite debates regarding Ivory Coast’s political leadership and the role of long-standing figures in the country’s future. Supporters of the president have already begun campaigning in anticipation of the 2025 elections, though Ouattara has not made any official announcement regarding his candidacy.
Ouattara has also been vocal about wanting his old rivals, Gbagbo and Bedie, to withdraw from politics, a move that he says could create space for a peaceful transition of power. The political landscape in Ivory Coast remains tense, with past elections marred by violence and constitutional disputes.
Many will closely watch Ivory Coast in the coming months as the election season approaches, with citizens hoping for a peaceful process despite the polarized political environment.
