Côte d'Ivoire
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has confirmed his bid for a fourth term, amid tensions over the exclusion of key opposition leaders. His ruling party had nominated him, but he had not previously confirmed his candidacy for the October 25 election. With major opposition figures disqualified, Ouattara is the frontrunner. Opposition parties accuse the government of using legal means to target their leaders, and protests have erupted over the disqualification of rival Tidjane Thiam. Ouattara's decision follows the death of his chosen successor in 2020 and is part of a broader trend in West Africa where leaders change term limits to stay in power, leading to divisions within ECOWAS.
