What Ouattara's reelection means for Cote d'Ivoire

DW (English)

Alassane Ouatarra, Cote d'Ivoire's president since 2010, was reelected in a landslide win in October. Though the country has flourished economically under his leadership, some fear the cost could be the country's democracy.

Transcript

00:00Alassane Ouattara secured a fourth term in October 2025, with almost 90% of the vote.

00:07But with major opponents pushed aside, many warned that Cote d'Ivoire's democracy may be at stake.

00:15Under Ouattara, Cote d'Ivoire has flourished economically, sustained near-double-digit growth,

00:20booming infrastructure investments, and surging foreign investor confidence.

00:24For the West Africa region, long plagued by economic fragility, civil strife, and political instability,

00:32Cote d'Ivoire's growth promises economic momentum.

00:36But others say there is a cost. Critics argue civic space has shrunk.

00:41Protests were banned, and political competition has been effectively neutered.

00:46While many West African states were holding contested but competitive ballots,

00:51Ouattara's landslide raises fears that Cote d'Ivoire seems to be sliding

00:55from stability through growth to stability through control.

01:00What does this mean for the broader region?

01:03It's difficult to make a prognosis. Everything hinges on one question.

01:08Will Ouattara's new term anchor regional stability

01:11or widen the gap between economic growth and political freedom?

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