Ivory Coast votes in key election that may extend longtime leader’s rule

Polls unfastened successful the West African federation successful a heated predetermination acceptable to present a 4th word to 83-year-old Alassane Ouattara.

Voters successful the Ivory Coast are casting ballots for president with incumbent Alassane Ouattara the overwhelming favourite arsenic helium runs for a fourth term.

Nearly 9 cardinal Ivorians volition ballot connected Saturday from 8am to 6pm (08:00 to 18:00 GMT), choosing from a tract of 5 contenders.

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Opposition heavyweights, however, aren’t moving for the post. Former President Laurent Gbagbo and erstwhile Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam person been barred from standing, the erstwhile for a transgression condemnation and the second for acquiring French citizenship.

Critics said the exclusion of cardinal candidates has fixed Ouattara, 83, an unfair vantage and fundamentally cleared the mode for his 4th term.

None of his 4 rivals represents an established enactment nor bash they person the scope of the ruling Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace (RHDP).

Agribusinessman and erstwhile Trade Minister Jean-Louis Billon, 60, hopes to rally backers from his erstwhile party, the Democratic Party, portion erstwhile archetypal woman Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, 76, is looking to garner votes from supporters of her ex-husband.

The left-wing ballot hangs successful the equilibrium betwixt Gbagbo and Ahoua Don Mello, a civilian technologist and autarkic Pan-African with Russian sympathies. Henriette Lagou Adjoua, 1 of the archetypal 2 women to tally for the presidency during the 2015 election, is representing a centrist coalition, the Group of Political Partners for Peace.

At the Riviera Golf 1 Primary School successful the Ivory Coast’s economical capital, Abidjan, wherever Gbagbo is expected to formed her vote, the ambiance appeared calm arsenic the archetypal voters began to queue successful the aboriginal hours of Saturday.

“This ballot means a batch to us,” Konate Adama told Al Jazeera. “We request a campaigner to look from these elections. It volition pb america towards peace, contented and tranquillity.”

Turnout volition beryllium cardinal arsenic the absorption continues to telephone for a boycott. About 8.7 cardinal radical aged supra 18 are eligible to ballot successful a state of 33 cardinal with a median property of 18.3.

To win, a campaigner indispensable instrumentality an implicit bulk of the votes. A 2nd circular volition instrumentality spot if nary 1 clears that hurdle.

Controversial 4th term

Results are expected aboriginal adjacent week, and observers forecast Ouattara to triumph the much than 50 percent needed to unafraid triumph successful the archetypal round.

The octogenarian has wielded powerfulness successful the world’s apical cocoa shaper since 2011 erstwhile the state began reasserting itself arsenic a West African economical powerhouse.

Under the constitution, presidents whitethorn service a maximum of 2 terms. Ouattara argues a large law alteration implemented successful 2016 “reset” his limit.

The determination has angered his detractors. Opposition and civilian nine groups besides kick of restrictions connected Ouattara’s critics and a clime of fear.

About 44,000 information forces were deployed crossed the state to support protests successful check, particularly successful absorption strongholds successful the southbound and west. A night-time curfew was successful spot connected Friday and Saturday successful the portion wherever the governmental capital, Yamoussoukro, is located.

Authorities said they privation to debar “chaos” and a repetition of unrest surrounding the 2020 statesmanlike election. According to authoritative figures, 85 radical died past portion the absorption said determination were much than 200 deaths.

Opposition parties person encouraged Ivorians to protestation against Ouattara’s predicted 4th term. On Monday, an Independent Electoral Commission gathering was torched.

The authorities has responded by banning demonstrations, and the judiciary has sentenced respective twelve radical to 3 years successful situation for disturbing the peace.

In 2010, the state was plunged into a struggle that killed astatine slightest 3,000 radical aft the statesmanlike predetermination betwixt Gbagbo and Ouattara.