Mass Protests Hit Côte d’Ivoire as 83-Year-Old President Ouattara Declares Fourth Term Bid

• Protests broke out in Abidjan and other cities, with demonstrators burning effigies and demanding Ouattara step down.
• The political tension has revived fears of unrest similar to the 2010 post-election crisis, with analysts warning that the country’s stability could be at risk if the dispute escalates.

Protests have erupted across Côte d’Ivoire after 83-year-old President Alassane Ouattara announced his bid for a fourth term in the upcoming October 25 presidential election.

Ouattara, citing constitutional provisions and his ability to lead, argued that his continued leadership is needed to address the nation’s security and economic challenges. However, opposition parties and civil society groups have condemned the move, calling it a constitutional violation and a threat to democracy.

Protests broke out in Abidjan and other cities, with demonstrators burning effigies and demanding Ouattara step down. Opposition leaders, including PDCI’s Tidjane Thiam and former president Laurent Gbagbo, have formed an alliance to challenge Ouattara’s candidacy and push for the reinstatement of disqualified opposition figures like Gbagbo, Charles Blé Goudé, and Guillaume Soro.

The political tension has revived fears of unrest similar to the 2010 post-election crisis, with analysts warning that the country’s stability could be at risk if the dispute escalates.