Ivory Coast heads to the polls on Saturday in a presidential election largely seen as favoring incumbent Alassane Ouattara, 83, who is seeking a fourth term while hinting it will be his last.
The veteran leader credits himself with nearly 15 years of economic growth and relative stability since taking power in 2011 after a civil war that claimed about 3,000 lives.
The 2011 conflict erupted when then-president Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to Ouattara in the 2010 election. More than eight million Ivorians are registered to vote this year, with polling stations closing at 6 p.m. local time (1800 GMT). Provisional results are expected within five days. A runoff will be held if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote.
Former president Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, ex-Credit Suisse CEO, were barred from running, leaving the opposition fragmented and boosting Ouattara’s prospects. Announcing his candidacy in July, Ouattara described a fourth term as one of “generational transmission,” acknowledging this week that “it’s not easy to work at the same pace” in his 80s.
With a median age of just 18, many Ivorians say it’s time for younger leadership. “He has really changed the image of Ivory Coast, but this should be his last mandate. We need to pass the torch,” said Souamane Cisse, a 44-year-old driver voting in Abidjan’s Adjame district.
Schoolteacher Fatou Fofana, 48, agreed that generational change should come — but peacefully. “It needs to come at the right time,” she said. “We need security.”
The world’s top cocoa producer remains one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, with strong bond performance and major investments in infrastructure and mining. Yet many young Ivorians say they see little benefit from the boom.
“I lost my job three years ago and haven’t found another,” said Alfred N’zi, 36, voting in Bingerville. “I came to vote for change.”
Landry Ka, 22, said the youth are “tired of seeing old people making decisions for us.” He supports Simone Gbagbo, 76, the former first lady and Ouattara’s most prominent challenger. The youngest candidate in the race is Jean-Louis Billon, 60, a former commerce minister who failed to win the backing of the main opposition PDCI, led by Thiam, 63.
“Many young Ivorians express deep skepticism toward the political elite, citing persistent unemployment, inequality, and a lack of representation,” said Chukwuemeka Eze of the Open Society Foundations.
Although Ivory Coast has a history of election-related unrest, this year’s campaign has been largely peaceful, with only scattered protests. Authorities imposed a curfew Friday night in the political capital, Yamoussoukro.
The government has deployed 44,000 security personnel nationwide and imposed what Amnesty International called an excessive ban on protests. Hundreds have been arrested, and dozens have received prison sentences of up to three years for offenses including public disorder.
Government spokesperson and former prime minister Patrick Achi defended the measures, saying authorities were committed to both security and stability.
“Let’s keep stability so the next generation can build on it,” he said. “At least the economy that suffered so much won’t be destroyed again.
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