Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has secured a fourth term in office after winning this year’s presidential election.
According to provisional results released by the Independent Electoral Commission (CIE) on Monday evening, the 83-year-old incumbent won with 89.77% of the vote—about 3.75 million ballots cast. His closest challenger, businessman Jean-Louis Billon, trailed far behind with just 3.09%.
Voter turnout stood at 50.1%, the commission reported.
These results remain provisional until the Constitutional Council reviews any election challenges and announces the final outcome. On Sunday, an opposition coalition composed of parties led by Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam condemned the vote as a “civilian coup d’état,” declaring they would not recognize Ouattara’s victory.
Ouattara had initially been limited to two terms, but a 2016 constitutional reform enabled him to run again in 2020, in an election largely boycotted by the opposition.
He first assumed the presidency in 2011, following the arrest of then-leader Laurent Gbagbo, who had refused to concede defeat in the disputed 2010 election.
