The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, recognized as the second-largest economy in West Africa and a global powerhouse in the production of cocoa and cashew nuts, is conducting the first round of its presidential election today, Saturday, October 25, 2025. Polling stations across the nation commenced operations at 08:00 local time and are scheduled to close at 18:00. The election is overshadowed by controversy surrounding the candidacy of the 83-year-old incumbent head of state, Alassane Ouattara, who is seeking an unprecedented fourth term. This bid was facilitated by constitutional amendments enacted in 2016, which effectively reset previous presidential term limits.
The political climate leading up to the vote has been marked by profound strain and tension. This unrest stems primarily from the decisions made by the Constitutional Council to bar several prominent opposition figures from participating in the race. Among those disqualified is former President Laurent Gbagbo, aged 80, whose exclusion is linked to a prior conviction stemming from the 2011 conflict. Another notable figure removed from the ballot is Tidjane Thiam, the 63-year-old former chief executive of Credit Suisse, whose formal renunciation of his French citizenship in March 2025 was judged by the court to have occurred too late.
These judicial decisions ignited a wave of street demonstrations and protests across the country, which authorities met with severe measures. Security forces have detained at least 237 members affiliated with the political movement known as the “Common Front.” Furthermore, 58 individuals from this group were handed sentences of 36 months in prison just this past Tuesday for their involvement in the demonstrations. To maintain order and secure the electoral process, the government has deployed a massive security presence, involving more than 44,000 police and military personnel.
Despite the high-stakes political environment, the opposition remains fractured, positioning Ouattara as the clear favorite. Besides the incumbent, the registered candidates vying for the presidency include Simone Gbagbo (76 years old), Jean-Louis Billon (60 years old), Ahua Don Mello, and Henriette Lagou Adjoua. According to electoral law, a candidate must secure an absolute majority of votes in the first round to avoid a runoff. International observer missions, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have emphasized that holding peaceful and transparent elections is crucial for the continued development of Ivorian society.
Against the backdrop of political friction, Côte d'Ivoire continues to function as a vital economic engine for the region. Agriculture forms the backbone of the national economy, and global prices for cocoa have recently soared to record levels. However, this economic success story is tempered by widespread poverty, with approximately 37.5% of the population still living below the poverty line—a factor that contributes significantly to the underlying political tension.
To boost economic independence, the nation is aggressively pursuing a strategy to increase its domestic processing capacity for cocoa. The ambitious goal is to process the entire national harvest within the country by the year 2030. A significant step toward this objective was the inauguration in June 2025 of the new Transcao CI factory. This facility, built at a cost of $235 million, has boosted the country's annual processing capacity by an additional 100,000 tons.