President Alassane Ouattara has once again emerged as the central figure in Ivory Coast’s political future, following his formal nomination as the presidential candidate of the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) for the October 2025 elections.
The announcement was made during a highly anticipated party congress held in Abidjan, solidifying Ouattara’s place as the dominant force in Ivorian politics more than a decade after he first assumed power.
The congress, chaired by former Prime Minister Patrick Achi, was marked by resounding support for the 83-year-old leader. Party members expressed “unreserved approval” of his candidacy, with many delegates hailing the decision as a continuation of stability and leadership.
Though President Ouattara himself did not publicly declare his acceptance at the event, the overwhelming consensus among RHDP officials and supporters made the party’s intentions clear.
Ouattara’s political trajectory has long been the subject of fierce debate, particularly following his controversial third term in 2020.
Critics argued that his bid violated constitutional term limits, while supporters claimed that the 2016 constitutional reform effectively reset the presidential mandate, allowing him to run again.
Despite public unrest and widespread condemnation from opposition parties, Ouattara secured re-election amid a fragmented and weakened opposition landscape.
The RHDP’s choice to reaffirm Ouattara’s candidacy reflects a broader strategy of consolidating power ahead of what is expected to be a contentious electoral season.
With opposition parties still struggling to present a unified front, the president’s camp is betting on his enduring popularity and image as a guarantor of economic growth and national stability.
Analysts believe the move underscores not only Ouattara’s personal influence within the RHDP but also the absence of a clear successor in the party’s ranks—an issue that has dogged the Ivorian political class for years.
As the country prepares for the 2025 vote, the question now is whether Ouattara’s enduring political dominance will reinforce Ivory Coast’s democratic framework—or test its resilience once again.
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