Ivory Coast’s presidential candidates wrapped up their campaigns Thursday as the tense and polarized race draws to a close ahead of Saturday’s election.
The election will determine whether 83-year-old President Alassane Ouattara extends his leadership of the cocoa-producing nation into a fourth term, one that would push his time in power close to two decades. Running under the ruling Rassemblement des Houphouetistes pour la Paix, Ouattara has campaigned under the slogan “For a Great Nation.”
An estimated 8.7 million Ivorians are registered to cast their ballots, with four opposition candidates, many from fragmented and weakened parties, vying to unseat him.
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On Thursday, thousands of Ouattara loyalists flooded central Abidjan, waving flags and chanting party slogans as music blared from speakers, AP reported. Standing before the crowd at a rally overlooking the city’s newly built bridges, the president took a swipe at critics, declaring, “The dogs are barking but the caravan has moved already.”
Elsewhere, other contenders made their last pitches to voters. Former first lady Simone Gbagbo addressed supporters in Aboisso, while ex-commerce minister Jean-Louis Billon drew a modest crowd in Bouaké.
Despite their efforts, analysts say neither stands a realistic chance. The disqualification of two high-profile contenders, former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam and ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, has dramatically reshaped the race and fueled anger across the country.
Their exclusion triggered widespread demonstrations, leading to hundreds of arrests and detentions.
As election day nears, Ivory Coast’s normally bustling cities have quieted. In Abidjan, shops remain shuttered as residents brace for potential unrest, a familiar fear in a country where past elections have often turned violent.
Billboards of Ouattara dominate the streets, his smiling face plastered across intersections and buildings. Posters of rival candidates are few, pointing out the president’s firm grip on the campaign.
“Ouattara will win in the first round,” said Ange Ouattara, a 25-year-old supporter. “The others are just opponents for the sake of opposition.”
