Ndiho Media,LLC.

By Ndiho Media/ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire

Ivory Coast’s political landscape has been thrown into fresh turmoil following President Alassane Ouattara’s announcement that he will run for a controversial fourth term in October’s presidential election. At 83, Ouattara says the move is aimed at preserving national stability — but critics argue it’s a dangerous consolidation of power that risks plunging the country into renewed chaos.

“For him to run again, we were not surprised. There were signs,” said Dr. Gnaka Lagoke, Associate Professor of History, Philosophy, and Religion at Lincoln University, in an exclusive interview with Different Perspectives. “Yes, the 2016 constitution made some amendments — but it’s a political smokescreen. It’s not legally justified.”

Ouattara’s 2020 re-election already stirred controversy, as he reversed his earlier pledge to step down. Now, with key opposition figures — including former President Laurent Gbagbo, Guillaume Soro, and Tidjane Thiam — barred from running, the field is effectively being cleared for a one-person race.

“How do you justify excluding all your major opponents?” Lagoke asked. “They’re using the institutions of the state to sideline any real competition. This isn’t democracy — it’s political engineering.”

Lagoke warns that such tactics could stir unrest reminiscent of the 2010–2011 post-election violence that killed over 3,000 people. “Ivory Coast never had true reconciliation after that conflict. Many voices were silenced, some were imprisoned, others died in exile.”

When asked about the credibility of this year’s election, he didn’t hold back: “It’s like playing football on a tilted field where one team has their hands tied behind their backs and the referee works for the other side. That’s not a fair game.”

While the Ouattara government touts economic growth and infrastructure development, Lagoke calls it a mirage of prosperity. “Yes, there are nice roads and bridges. But who owns them? Multinational companies. Meanwhile, the people still import rice and basic goods. That’s not sovereignty. That’s dependency dressed up as development.”

Lagoke says many Ivorians feel powerless. “At least 50% of the population is against this move, but with major opposition candidates disqualified and protests banned, what democratic options are left? Even people within his own party are uneasy.”

Civil society and religious groups have raised concerns over growing political polarization. Yet institutions like ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations have remained largely silent.

“These bodies rush to condemn military coups but go mute when democracy is dismantled through legal trickery,” Lagoke said. “What’s happening in Ivory Coast is a constitutional coup, and it’s not unique. We’ve seen similar attempts in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and elsewhere.”

He added, “Ivory Coast is just one example of a broader crisis of leadership across Africa. Many Africans want change, accountability, and Pan-Africanism — not leaders who serve foreign interests while silencing their own people.”

As the October vote looms, the stakes are high. “Ouattara may believe he’s securing stability,” Lagoke concluded, “but silencing dissent, jailing opponents, and suppressing protests — that’s not peace. That’s fear. And fear doesn’t last.”