Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has signaled his willingness to continue serving as president, though his party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), has yet to make a formal decision on its candidate for the 2025 presidential election.
Speaking to members of the diplomatic corps in Abidjan on Thursday, the 83-year-old leader stated, “I am in good health and eager to continue serving my country.” The remark marks his clearest indication yet that he may seek a fourth term in office.
Ouattara, who was re-elected in 2020 for a controversial third term following a constitutional dispute, had previously expressed a desire to step down. However, he has also suggested that stepping aside would depend on assurances that his longtime political rivals would withdraw from politics as well.
In September 2024, the RHDP endorsed Ouattara as a potential candidate for the 2025 election, which is scheduled for October. However, a formal nomination and acceptance of candidacy have not been finalized.
Ouattara’s potential bid for re-election is likely to reignite debates over term limits in Ivory Coast, a nation that has experienced political instability and violence in the past. The 2020 election saw significant unrest over Ouattara’s decision to run for a third term, with critics accusing him of circumventing constitutional term limits.
As Ivory Coast heads toward another election cycle, political observers will closely watch Ouattara’s next move and the reaction from both domestic and international stakeholders.