Ivory Coast’s Ouattara Poised for Fourth Term

Alassane Ouattara appears set to claim a fourth term as president of Ivory Coast. Early results from Saturday’s election indicate a commanding lead for the incumbent. The final official results are scheduled for announcement on Monday.

Ouattara’s Dominant Lead

Official tallies from the president’s northern strongholds show him securing over 90 percent of the vote. Turnout in these regions was reported to be exceptionally high. The 83-year-old leader also performed well in traditionally pro-opposition areas in the south and in parts of Abidjan, the economic capital. With his main rivals barred from the race, Ouattara was the overwhelming favorite to win the Ivory Coast presidential election.

Opposition Questions Legitimacy

Despite the lead, opposition figures have raised concerns about the electoral process. Candidate Jean-Louis Billon noted a “very low turnout” in certain regions, though he congratulated Ouattara on his apparent re-election. Simon Doho of the PDCI party highlighted a clear voter turnout divide between the north and south, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the outcome. The electoral commission president placed national turnout at approximately 50 percent.

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Election Security and Incidents

The government deployed 44,000 security personnel and banned demonstrations to maintain order. While election day was largely calm, officials reported incidents at about 200 polling stations. Clashes in the south and west resulted in at least two fatalities, including a 13-year-old boy. Six people have died in total during the election period. The interior minister stated these incidents did not majorly disrupt the voting process. The nation now awaits the final confirmation of the Ivory Coast presidential election results.