Abidjan: Thousands of Ivoirians rallied against incumbent leader Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term in office. The demonstrations, the second this week, were led by former President Laurent Gbagbo and come ahead of October’s presidential election.
According to Voice of Nigeria, without specifically naming Ouattara, the 80-year-old leader of the African People’s Party-Cote d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) urged a large crowd of his supporters to oppose a ‘fourth term’. He criticized the president’s bid as an unconstitutional move and demanded the release of activists who have been arrested in recent weeks.
In 2016, Ouattara modified the country’s Constitution, resetting the presidential limit to enable his candidacy for a third term during the 2020 elections. This July, he announced his candidacy for a fourth term, citing his health and the Constitution as justification for his decision. He argued that the country is experiencing ‘unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges’ that demand experienced leadership, such as his own.
While Ouattara is expected to face numerous opposition figures in the upcoming polls, this will not include Gbagbo. Gbagbo, along with former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, is among several leading opposition politicians barred from running due to court convictions.
Despite Ouattara’s assurances of a peaceful election, analysts express skepticism regarding the likelihood of such an outcome, particularly given the exclusion of opposition candidates.