Ivory Coast’s president Alassane Ouattara looks set to win a fourth term. His only formidable rival, Jean-Louis Billon, has conceded, paving the way for an advanced victory by Ouattara. The election played out amid a national firestorm. Other potential voters, in record numbers, simply decided to abstain from voting, claiming a “broken and crooked” electoral system.
The 83-year-old former International Monetary Fund executive has endured unprecedented grassroots pushback in his campaign. Both Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam were prevented from being able to run against him. Gbagbo was ineligible because of a criminal conviction, and Thiam was disqualified for having obtained French nationality. Thiam’s opposition party, the PDCI, chose not to support a joint candidate during the run-up to this election.
Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert, the president of the independent election commission, said that voter turnout exceeded 50 percent. Polling stations in the capital, Abidjan, and other areas with a strong historical opposition to the government were heavily underrepresented. The initial wave of partial results showed that Ouattara held a commanding lead across the country, a fact Billon accepted.
“The initial results place the incumbent President, Mr. Alassane Ouattara, in the lead, designating him the winner of this presidential election.” – Jean-Louis Billon
Although early results seemed to at least temporarily clarify Ouattara’s victory, the mood leading up to the election was fraught with worry. Pre-election mobilizations sparked massive protests around the country. Electoral opposition groups called on citizens to boycott the polls, as questions of electoral legitimacy amid arrest warrants and a war raged on. Stories of sporadic violence were reported around the country, prompting at least two deaths.
As several groups anticipated unrest and possible violence after the election, local government officials acted. They mobilized more than 44,000 security personnel nationwide to maintain order. Idris reported that security patrols were mobilized during the entire process to deter any disruptions.
“From the initial results, it’s clear the incumbent is leading by a wide margin in many of the areas so far.”
There were almost nine million Ivorians registered to vote in the election. Ouattara achieved a mind-boggling 94 percent in the 2020 elections. Yet while winners for this year are still being tabulated and revealed.
“Security patrols are all over the place; at least 44,000 security personnel have been deployed for this election before, during, and after, in case trouble breaks out.” – Ahmed Idris
The election saw nearly nine million Ivorians eligible to cast their votes. While Ouattara obtained 94 percent of the ballots during the 2020 elections, this year’s results are still being collated and announced.
“This is the most critical stage of this election, where results from various polling booths and centres are being collated and announced.” – Ahmed Idris
