If you’re looking for a quick answer, here it is. Alassane Ouattara is the President of Ivory Coast. He’s been in the top spot since 2010, which, if you’re doing the math, is a long time.
But honestly, just knowing his name doesn't tell you the whole story. Politics in Côte d’Ivoire (that’s the official name, though most of us say Ivory Coast) is a wild ride. It’s not just about who sits in the big chair in Abidjan. It’s about how he stayed there after everyone thought he was done.
The 2025 Election and Why It Matters Now
We just came out of a massive election cycle. In October 2025, the country went to the polls again. You might’ve heard rumors that he wouldn’t run. He's 84 years old now. People were talking about "generational renewal."
That didn't happen.
Ouattara won a fourth term in a landslide. We're talking 89.77% of the vote. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, it’s complicated. Most of the heavy hitters—the guys who could actually challenge him, like Tidjane Thiam and former president Laurent Gbagbo—were barred from running.
Because of that, the turnout was kinda low, around 50%. In some parts of Abidjan, the streets were basically ghost towns on election day. People are tired. Or they’re scared. Or maybe they just felt like the result was a done deal before the first ballot was even cast.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
- Winner: Alassane Ouattara (RHDP) - 89.77%
- Runner-up: Jean-Louis Billon - 3%
- Third place: Simone Gbagbo - 2.4%
The runner-up, Jean-Louis Billon, is actually a former minister of his. He conceded pretty fast. Basically, the opposition was fractured and weakened.
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Who is Alassane Ouattara, Really?
Before he was "Ado" (the nickname his supporters love), he was a high-flying economist. This isn't your typical career politician who worked his way up through local councils.
He was a big deal at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He’s a technocrat. He looks at the country like a giant spreadsheet that needs balancing. He actually served as Prime Minister back in the early 90s under the country’s founding father, Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
The "Ivoirité" Controversy
You can't talk about who is president of Ivory Coast without mentioning the drama over his nationality. For years, his enemies tried to block him from running by claiming he wasn't "Ivorian enough." They said his parents were from Burkina Faso. This sparked a whole mess of xenophobia called ivoirité.
It literally led to civil wars.
When he finally won in 2010, the sitting president, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to leave. It took months of fighting and about 3,000 deaths before Ouattara finally took the oath of office in May 2011.
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The "Third Term" Loophole
Here is where it gets spicy. The Ivorian constitution says there’s a two-term limit.
So, why is he on his fourth?
Back in 2020, Ouattara argued that because the constitution was changed in 2016, the "clock reset." He called it a "New Republic." His critics called it a constitutional coup. He originally said he wouldn’t run in 2020, but then his hand-picked successor, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, suddenly died of a heart attack.
Ouattara stepped back in. He’s been there ever since.
Is the Country Doing Better?
It depends on who you ask. If you look at the skyscrapers and the new bridges in Abidjan, the answer is a resounding yes. The economy grows at about 6% every year. It’s the world’s biggest cocoa producer. If you like chocolate, you’re probably eating something from an Ivorian farm.
But there’s a flip side.
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- Poverty: Around 37% of the population still lives under the poverty line.
- Debt: The massive infrastructure projects are built on loans.
- Age Gap: The average age in Ivory Coast is about 19. The President is 84. There’s a massive disconnect between the old guard at the top and the millions of kids looking for jobs.
What Happens Next?
Ouattara is now set to lead until 2030. He was officially sworn in for this fourth term in December 2025.
The ruling party, the RHDP, also dominated the parliamentary elections right after. They have a total grip on power. But the "succession problem" hasn't gone away. Everyone is wondering what happens when he finally does decide to step down.
If you're watching the region, keep an eye on the north. Jihadist groups from the Sahel (Mali and Burkina Faso) have been trying to push into Ivory Coast. So far, the government has done a decent job of keeping them out through a mix of military force and social spending.
Actionable Insights for Following Ivorian Politics
If you want to stay informed about who is president of Ivory Coast and what they’re doing, don’t just look at the headlines.
- Monitor Cocoa Prices: The stability of the presidency is tied to the price of cocoa. If prices drop, the government has less money to keep people happy, and unrest usually follows.
- Watch the Vice President: Tiémoko Meyliet Koné is the current VP. He’s often seen as the technocratic successor, though he doesn't have the same "star power" as Ouattara.
- Check International Relations: Ouattara is very close to France. If that relationship cools, or if the "Anti-French" sentiment sweeping through West Africa (like in Niger or Mali) hits Abidjan, things could get rocky.
- Follow Local News: Sites like Fraternité Matin (pro-government) and Le Nouveau Réveil (pro-opposition) will give you the two very different versions of reality in the country.
The story of the Ivorian presidency is a masterclass in how to hold onto power in a volatile region. Whether you see Ouattara as a stabilizing force or an aging autocrat, he remains the most influential figure in French-speaking West Africa today.