Eighty-three-year-old Alassane Ouattara, on Monday was officially sworn in for a fourth term as President of Ivory Coast.
The inauguration comes after an election held on 25 October 2025, in which Ouattara secured a commanding victory with 89.77 percent of the votes, according to provisional results released by the country’s electoral commission.
The vote that put him back in office was marked by the absence of some of his most prominent rivals, who were legally disqualified from running.
As a result, Ouattara faced only minor challengers, including former Commerce Minister Jean‑Louis Billon and former First Lady Simone Gbagbo, who together captured only a small fraction of the total, around 3 percent and 2.4 percent respectively.
Despite the landslide figure, the election did not draw overwhelming participation: official turnout was about 50 percent, even though roughly 8.7 million Ivorians had been registered to vote.
Many voter‑turnout observers said the low turnout reflected widespread disillusionment with the electoral process or disappointment among opposition supporters.
In his inauguration speech, Ouattara promised to “loyally defend the constitution,” reiterating his commitment to govern under constitutional rule.
The fourth term, he said, would be an opportunity to consolidate stability and steer the country toward continued growth and development.
Critics, however, warn that the combination of an overwhelming win, sidelined opposition, and weak turnout risks undermining the perceived legitimacy of the result, fueling concerns over democratic decline, political stagnation and the lack of a clear successor.
