Why Côte d’Ivoire’s election is so controversial right now

At the centre of it all is President Alassane Ouattara, now 83, who’s been in power since 2011. He once said he would step down after two terms, but later changed course, saying a 2016 constitutional reform reset the clock and made it legal for him to run again.

His supporters call him the “stability guy,” crediting him with years of economic growth. His critics say it’s a sign of democracy fatigue, the feeling that leaders in the region just don’t want to let go.

The field this year is also thinner than usual. Laurent Gbagbo, the former president ousted after the 2010–2011 crisis, can’t run because of a previous conviction. Tidjane Thiam, a former Credit Suisse boss and one of the opposition’s biggest names, was also barred after the courts ruled he was still technically a French national when he registered. Their absence has left many wondering how competitive the race really is.

And then there’s the online chaos. Fake news, deepfakes, and WhatsApp rumours are swirling through the country’s digital spaces. Authorities have been cracking down hard, banning protests, arresting activists, and tightening social media monitoring. Earlier this year, 26 protesters were sentenced to three years in jail for what officials called illegal demonstrations.

It’s not the first time Côte d’Ivoire has headed into an uneasy vote. The 2010 election ended in months of fighting that killed around 3,000 people. Since then, the country has rebuilt, but deep divisions still linger. Many young Ivorians, who make up the majority of the population, say they’re tired of recycled politics and just want jobs, fairness, and a real say in their future.

Observers from ECOWAS, the African Union, and the European Union are expected to monitor the polls. But as election day approaches, the question many Ivorians are quietly asking is simple: can this vote finally move the country forward? Or will it reopen old wounds?