Three months ahead of Ivory Coast’s presidential election, President Alassane Ouattara has officially announced his candidacy for a fourth term, ending months of speculation.

In a televised address, the 83-year-old leader cited his commitment to maintaining “peace, prosperity, and security” in the country, while stressing that both his health and the Constitution allow him to seek re-election. Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, highlighted growing regional terrorism threats and global economic uncertainty as key reasons for his decision, saying these challenges required “experienced leadership.”

His Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party has strongly backed his bid, hailing him as a “guarantor of stability.” However, the announcement is expected to intensify tensions with the opposition, which boycotted the last election in protest of his controversial third term following a 2016 constitutional amendment that reset term limits.

Key opposition leaders, including PDCI’s Tidjane Thiam and former President Laurent Gbagbo of PPACI, are currently fighting their exclusion from the electoral roll. Both parties have joined forces to demand their reinstatement ahead of the October 25 vote.

Candidate submissions close at the end of August, setting the stage for a high-stakes election in a politically divided nation.