Published On 23/10/2025
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Last update: 08:04 (Mecca time)
On Saturday, October 25, 2025, Côte d’Ivoire will witness decisive presidential elections, amid a tense political scene and limited competition, after the Constitutional Council accepted the candidacy of only 5 out of 60 candidates who submitted their files.
The race is led by current President Alassane Ouattara, who is seeking a fourth term despite the legal controversy, facing former First Lady Simone-Ehifet Gbagbo, who is returning to the political arena with a program that focuses on national reconciliation and monetary independence.
It is expected that about 8.7 million registered voters will cast their votes in this presidential election.
Prominent figures such as Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam were excluded for legal reasons, making the competition between names with less public presence.
These elections are considered a test of the future political balance in the country, amid calls to ensure transparency and expand popular participation.
When are elections held?
The presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, the Independent Electoral Commission announced.
These elections are considered pivotal in the country’s history, as they come amid political and social tensions, and in light of the current President Hassan Ouattara’s candidacy for a fourth term despite the constitutional controversy regarding the number of presidential terms allowed.
Who are the candidates to run?
Out of 60 candidates who submitted their files, the Constitutional Council approved only 5 candidates, after excluding a number of prominent figures for legal reasons, most notably former President Laurent Gbagbo, Tidjane Thiam, and Charles Blé Godet.
The accepted candidates are:
Al-Hassan Ouattara (83 years old): Current president, candidate of the Rally of Houphouëts for Democracy and Peace party.
Simone Ehifit Gbagbo (76 years old): Former First Lady, Candidate of the Candidate Generations Movement.
Jean-Louis Billon (age not disclosed): Independent businessman.
Ahwa Don Milo (71 years old): Independent candidate and former leader of the African Peoples Party.
Pascal Avi N’Guessan (72 years old): Chairman of the Ivorian Popular Front party, despite the recent decline in his political presence.
What is the most important agenda for each of them?
Al-Hassan Ouattara: Focuses on economic stability, strengthening infrastructure, and continued growth, and presents himself as a guarantor of stability after two decades of political crises.
Simone Gbagbo: It proposes a national reconciliation program that includes issuing a general amnesty law, reintegrating exiles, and achieving monetary independence by replacing the African franc with a regional currency.
The Sahel coalition countries also support and adopt a social democratic discourse.
Jean-Louis Billon: Focuses on supporting the private sector, stimulating investment, and presenting a liberal economic vision.
Ahwa Don Melo: He calls for constitutional reforms, expanding political participation, and presents himself as an independent alternative far from traditional polarization.
Pascal Avi N’Guessan: He demands the restoration of his historic party, and focuses on social justice, but faces internal organizational challenges.
When are the results announced?
It is expected that the preliminary results will be announced within a week of polling day, i.e. in early November 2025, according to the timetable set by the Independent Electoral Commission.
If no candidate obtains an absolute majority, a second round will be held between the top-voting candidates two weeks after the results are announced.
Who is most likely to win?
Estimates indicate that Al-Hassan Ouattara is the most likely to win a fourth term, given his control over state institutions, his party’s organizational strength, and the exclusion of his most prominent competitors from the race.
However, Simone Gbagbo’s candidacy is seen as an attempt to reshape the opposition, and may gain symbolic and popular support in some areas, especially in the south.