Voting has ended and counting is underway in Ivory Coast’s presidential election held on Saturday, as longtime leader Alassane Ouattara bids for a fourth term in office.
Only a handful of voters arrived before the polls officially closed at 6 p.m Leticia Bea, a local teacher, said she came out to set a good example for her students. “We came to fulfill our civic duty as teachers. I told myself, it’s a duty. For the children we teach, the example must start with us,” she said.
Ouattara’s decision to seek another term, after key opponents were barred from running, triggered mass protests in August. Authorities banned political marches earlier this month, and clashes between demonstrators and police in Abidjan’s Blockhauss district left several injured and hundreds arrested.
Many voters, however, voiced hope for calm. Leterigue Sekongo, a 48 year old electrical engineer, urged peace: “There’s no sense in using violence to destroy the country. It helps no one,” he said.
Five candidates are competing for the presidency, but many observers believe Ouattara, an 83 year old who has ruled the world’s top cocoa-producing nation for nearly 15 years, remains the favorite. If re-elected, his leadership could stretch close to two decades. His party, the Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), also maintains a majority in parliament.
Ouattara is credited with driving economic recovery after the civil war, recording an average growth rate of 6% fueled by a cocoa boom. Still, about 37.5% of the nation’s 30 million people live below the poverty line, with youth unemployment remaining a major challenge.
Analysts predict a low voter turnout this year, as public confidence in the electoral process wanes following years of politically charged violence. Official results are expected on Sunday.
