Candidates in Côte d’Ivoire concluded their final rallies on Thursday, October 23, 2025, as the West African nation prepares for its presidential election on Saturday.
Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, 83, is seeking a fourth term that would extend his leadership of the cocoa-rich nation to nearly two decades. Running under the ruling Rassemblement des Houphouetistes pour la Paix (RHDP) with the slogan “For a Great Nation,” Ouattara faces four weakened opposition parties in a race that has drawn 8.7 million registered voters.
The campaign season ended with grand rallies across the country. In Abidjan, thousands of Ouattara’s supporters filled the streets for a final show of support as the president delivered a defiant message to his critics. Former first lady Simone Gbagbo held her closing rally in Aboisso, while former commerce minister Jean-Louis Billon addressed supporters in Bouake. Despite these efforts, political analysts believe the opposition stands little chance following the disqualification of major contenders such as former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam and ex-president Laurent Gbagbo.
As election day nears, fear of violence has led to shuttered shops and deserted streets across Abidjan — a city once vibrant but now cautious, given the country’s history of post-election unrest. Campaign posters of Ouattara dominate public spaces, underscoring his apparent advantage. Many supporters, such as 25-year-old Ange Ouattara, express confidence in an outright first-round victory for the incumbent President.