• Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, 83, announces candidacy for a fourth term in the October 25 election.
• His decision follows months of speculation and the exclusion of prominent opposition candidates.
• Opposition parties denounce his bid as unconstitutional, raising concerns over election integrity.

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has officially declared his intention to run for a fourth term in the upcoming presidential election set for October 25. In a televised address, the 83-year-old leader stated that both his health and the constitution allow him to serve another term amid "unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges" facing the nation. He emphasized that experienced leadership is necessary to navigate these challenges, marking a shift from his earlier intentions to step down, citing "duty sometimes transcends a promise" made in good faith, according to Reuters and Africanews.

The announcement has sparked significant backlash from opposition parties, who argue that Ouattara's candidacy violates constitutional norms concerning presidential term limits. Notably, the exclusion of key opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Prime Minister Tidjane Thiam, has been criticized as a strategy to eliminate viable competition. Pascal Affi N'Guessan, an opposition leader, highlighted that the constitution was intended to limit terms and questioned Ouattara's pivot on his prior promises to cede power, as noted by BBC and Al Jazeera.

Despite Ouattara's assertion that he is the optimal candidate to maintain stability amid a growing terrorist threat and economic uncertainties, opposition parties have condemned his resolution to run again as a sign of power consolidation. This situation echoes past instances of electoral violence in Ivory Coast, particularly around his controversial third term bid in 2020, leading to calls for improved electoral conditions and the reinstatement of disqualified candidates. Political analysts express that rising dissatisfaction, particularly among the younger electorate, calls for a transformative political approach, according to Africanews and Reuters.

The political landscape in Ivory Coast is under tension as Ouattara's candidacy could potentially reignite conflicts reminiscent of previous elections, particularly given the restrictions placed on high-profile opposition members. A major protest, aimed at demanding the reinstatement of barred candidates, has been planned in response to the current electoral climate. This highlights a broader struggle between Ouattara’s administration and dissenters, who view his leadership as detrimental to the country's democratic foundations, as conveyed by Al Jazeera and BBC.