Latest news with #Ivorians
Leader Live
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Ivory Coast president announces bid for fourth term after changing constitution
His candidacy is contested after he changed the constitution to remove the presidential term limit. The 83-year-old president declared his plan in a televised announcement. He won a third term in 2020 after he initially said he was not going to run again. However, he changed his position following the death of his hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly. 'For several months, I have received numerous calls from fellow citizens regarding my potential candidacy in the presidential election,' the president said. Referring to the country by its name in French, he went on: 'Women and young people from all regions of Cote d'Ivoire, and countless anonymous voices from our neighbourhoods, towns and villages have reached out. 'In response to those appeals, I announced on June 22 that, as president of all Ivorians, I would, after careful reflection, make a decision guided solely by the best interest of the nation.' His most prominent rival, Tidjane Thiam, has already been barred from running by a court on the grounds that he was still a French citizen at the time he declared his candidacy, even though he later renounced his French nationality. Ivorian law bans dual nationals from running for president. Elections in Ivory Coast have usually been fraught with tension and violence. When Mr Ouattara announced his third term bid, several people were killed in the ensuing violence. There have been protests against the court's decision to bar Mr Thiam from contesting the election. Mr Ouattara is the latest among a growing number of leaders in West Africa who remain in power by changing the constitutional term limit. Coup leaders in the region have used alleged corruption within democratic governments and electoral changes as a pretext to seize power, leading to a split in the regional bloc, Ecowas. 'For those critical of Ecowas and civilian governments, Ouattara's decision just reinforces the legitimacy crisis everyone in the region is facing. It makes people like Ouattara look like hypocrites,' Nat Powell, Africa analyst at Oxford Analytica, told the Associated Press. Mr Ouattara's candidacy drew strong criticism from opposition members. 'Alassane Ouattara does not want to leave power — like any self-respecting dictator,' Guillaume Soro, a former prime minister who was blocked from running in the election, said. Affi N'guessan, a candidate of the opposition Ivorian Popular Front, called Mr Ouattara's candidacy 'illegal' but said he is confident that 'a united opposition will defeat him at the polls'.
South Wales Guardian
6 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Ivory Coast president announces bid for fourth term after changing constitution
His candidacy is contested after he changed the constitution to remove the presidential term limit. The 83-year-old president declared his plan in a televised announcement. He won a third term in 2020 after he initially said he was not going to run again. However, he changed his position following the death of his hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly. 'For several months, I have received numerous calls from fellow citizens regarding my potential candidacy in the presidential election,' the president said. Referring to the country by its name in French, he went on: 'Women and young people from all regions of Cote d'Ivoire, and countless anonymous voices from our neighbourhoods, towns and villages have reached out. 'In response to those appeals, I announced on June 22 that, as president of all Ivorians, I would, after careful reflection, make a decision guided solely by the best interest of the nation.' His most prominent rival, Tidjane Thiam, has already been barred from running by a court on the grounds that he was still a French citizen at the time he declared his candidacy, even though he later renounced his French nationality. Ivorian law bans dual nationals from running for president. Elections in Ivory Coast have usually been fraught with tension and violence. When Mr Ouattara announced his third term bid, several people were killed in the ensuing violence. There have been protests against the court's decision to bar Mr Thiam from contesting the election. Mr Ouattara is the latest among a growing number of leaders in West Africa who remain in power by changing the constitutional term limit. Coup leaders in the region have used alleged corruption within democratic governments and electoral changes as a pretext to seize power, leading to a split in the regional bloc, Ecowas. 'For those critical of Ecowas and civilian governments, Ouattara's decision just reinforces the legitimacy crisis everyone in the region is facing. It makes people like Ouattara look like hypocrites,' Nat Powell, Africa analyst at Oxford Analytica, told the Associated Press.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ivory Coast president, 83, says he will run for fourth term
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has announced he will run for a fourth term in October's election. In a statement, the 83-year-old said his health was not an issue and his candidacy was driven by a need to "preserve national stability amid ongoing security and economic challenges". Ouattara argues a new constitution approved in 2016 reset his two-term limit, meaning he is allowed to stand. He will be the poll's frontrunner, as several potential challengers have already been barred from the race. The excluded candidates include former President Laurent Gbagbo, ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and former minister Tidjane Thiam. On Tuesday, Thiam and other opposition leaders swiftly denounced Ouattara's decision to run. "Today's announcement by Mr Ouattara constitutes a violation of our Constitution and a new attack on democracy," Thiam said in a statement. "The Ivorian people will continue to make their voices heard and show the world what we think of this situation." On the same day Ouattara announced his bid, authorities banned a peaceful protest planned for 7 August. The demonstration was organised by opposition groups in order to demand the reinstatement of disqualified presidential candidates and an independent audit of the voter list. Former banker Ouattara will be hoping his track record propels him to victory in October - for four successive years Ivory Coast's economy has grown by more than 6%. However, the country is currently experiencing widespread disillusionment with the country's political establishment. Current tension over the exclusion of opposition candidates evokes memories of past electoral violence, including the 2010-2011 conflict that left over 3,000 dead and the unrest triggered by Ouattara's controversial third-term bid in 2020. More than 8.7 million Ivorians have registered to vote. Civil society groups and religious leaders, including the Catholic Bishops' Conference, have expressed alarm at growing political polarisation in the country. You may also be interested in: Is Ivory Coast's red card politics an own goal for democracy? 'I was born Ivorian' - bank boss barred from running for president tells BBC A love letter to attiéké, Ivory Coast's timeless culinary treasure Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Alassane Ouattara: Ivory Coast president, 83, says he will run for fourth term
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has announced he will run for a fourth term in October's a statement, the 83-year-old said his health was not an issue and his candidacy was driven by a need to "preserve national stability amid ongoing security and economic challenges".Ouattara argues a new constitution approved in 2016 reset his two-term limit, meaning he is allowed to will be the poll's frontrunner, as several potential challengers have already been barred from the race. The excluded candidates include former President Laurent Gbagbo, ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and former minister Tidjane Thiam have all been barred from Tuesday, Thiam and other opposition leaders swiftly denounced Ouattara's decision to run."Today's announcement by Mr Ouattara constitutes a violation of our Constitution and a new attack on democracy," Thiam said in a statement."The Ivorian people will continue to make their voices heard and show the world what we think of this situation."On the same day Ouattara announced his bid, authorities banned a peaceful protest planned for 7 demonstration was organised by opposition groups in order to demand the reinstatement of disqualified presidential candidates and an independent audit of the voter banker Ouattara will be hoping his track record propels him to victory in October - for four successive years Ivory Coast's economy has grown by more than 6%.However, the country is currently experiencing widespread disillusionment with the country's political tension over the exclusion of opposition candidates evokes memories of past electoral violence, including the 2010-2011 conflict that left over 3,000 dead and the unrest triggered by Ouattara's controversial third-term bid in than 8.7 million Ivorians have registered to vote. Civil society groups and religious leaders, including the Catholic Bishops' Conference, have expressed alarm at growing political polarisation in the country. You may also be interested in: Is Ivory Coast's red card politics an own goal for democracy?'I was born Ivorian' - bank boss barred from running for president tells BBCA love letter to attiéké, Ivory Coast's timeless culinary treasure Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
North Wales Chronicle
8 hours ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Ivory Coast president announces bid for fourth term after changing constitution
His candidacy is contested after he changed the constitution to remove the presidential term limit. The 83-year-old president declared his plan in a televised announcement. He won a third term in 2020 after he initially said he was not going to run again. However, he changed his position following the death of his hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly. 'For several months, I have received numerous calls from fellow citizens regarding my potential candidacy in the presidential election,' the president said. Referring to the country by its name in French, he went on: 'Women and young people from all regions of Cote d'Ivoire, and countless anonymous voices from our neighbourhoods, towns and villages have reached out. 'In response to those appeals, I announced on June 22 that, as president of all Ivorians, I would, after careful reflection, make a decision guided solely by the best interest of the nation.' His most prominent rival, Tidjane Thiam, has already been barred from running by a court on the grounds that he was still a French citizen at the time he declared his candidacy, even though he later renounced his French nationality. Ivorian law bans dual nationals from running for president. Elections in Ivory Coast have usually been fraught with tension and violence. When Mr Ouattara announced his third term bid, several people were killed in the ensuing violence. There have been protests against the court's decision to bar Mr Thiam from contesting the election. Mr Ouattara is the latest among a growing number of leaders in West Africa who remain in power by changing the constitutional term limit. Coup leaders in the region have used alleged corruption within democratic governments and electoral changes as a pretext to seize power, leading to a split in the regional bloc, Ecowas. 'For those critical of Ecowas and civilian governments, Ouattara's decision just reinforces the legitimacy crisis everyone in the region is facing. It makes people like Ouattara look like hypocrites,' Nat Powell, Africa analyst at Oxford Analytica, told the Associated Press.
