Alassane Ouattara - 2011-20??
Alassane Ouattara, a Muslim of the Dioula people, was first elected President on November 28, 2010. A period of fighting ensued after incumbent President Laurento Gbagbo refused to cede power; in May 2011, Ouattara was formally inaugurated. The elections followed 11 years of intermittent violent unrest and sustained international engagement aimed at creating lasting peace and democratic processes in Cote d’Ivoire.
Various explosive allegations, rightly or wrongly, informed the views of the Gbagbo-supporting population in southern Coˆte d’Ivoire—and much of Francophone Africa. These are that Ouattara was a foreigner born in Burkina Faso, that together with Burkinabe` President Blaise Compaore´ he was responsible for the 2002 rebellion, that his accession to power would result in the takeover of the country especially by Burkinabe` foreigners, and that historically, he had been ready to advance French interests in Coˆte d’Ivoire.
Alassane Dramane Ouattara was born on January 1, 1942, in Dimbokro, Côte d'Ivoire. He comes from a Muslim family of the Dyula people, with family connections to the historical Kong Empire in the region. His parents were Dramane Ouattara and Hadja Nabintou Ouattara née Cissé.
Ouattara completed his primary education in Côte d'Ivoire before moving to Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso, for his secondary education. In 1962, he brilliantly obtained his baccalaureate in Elementary Mathematics. His academic excellence earned him an American scholarship that would change the trajectory of his life.
He pursued higher education in the United States, attending the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1965. He continued at the University of Pennsylvania, obtaining a Master's degree in Economics in 1967 and a Ph.D. in Economics in May 1972. This strong educational foundation would prove instrumental in his future career in international finance and economics.
International Career in Economics and Finance
In April 1968, Ouattara joined the International Monetary Fund as an economist, beginning a distinguished career in international finance. He worked at the IMF in Washington, D.C. from 1968 to 1973, gaining valuable experience in global economic policy and development.From 1973 to 1975, Ouattara served as Chargé de Mission in Paris for the Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, the West African Central Bank. He then became Special Advisor to the Governor and Director of Research at the BCEAO from February 1975 to December 1982. His expertise and leadership abilities were recognized when he was appointed Vice Governor of the BCEAO in January 1983, a position he held until October 1984, reaching this prestigious role at the age of 40.
Ouattara returned to the IMF in November 1984 as Director of the African Department. In May 1987, he additionally became Counsellor to the Managing Director at the IMF. His tenure at the IMF earned him a reputation as a hard worker with a strong commitment to transparency and good governance. On October 28, 1988, he was appointed Governor of the BCEAO, and was sworn in on December 22, 1988, leading the institution until he entered politics.
Entry into Ivorian Politics
In April 1990, under pressure from the IMF's Structural Adjustment Program, President Félix Houphouët-Boigny was compelled to accept Ouattara as Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee for Coordination of the Stabilization and Economic Recovery Programme. Later that year, Ouattara was appointed Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire, serving from November 1990 to December 1993 in an unelected capacity.As Houphouët-Boigny's health deteriorated, Ouattara assumed increasing responsibility for overseeing the country's affairs. When the president died in December 1993, Ouattara became embroiled in a brief power struggle with Henri Konan Bédié, the president of the National Assembly. Under the constitution, Bédié was to assume the presidency. Despite hopes that Ouattara might form a unity government, Bédié quickly took office on the same day Houphouët-Boigny died. Two days later, Ouattara resigned from his position.
Years of Political Exclusion
Ouattara left the country in 1994 and returned to the IMF, where he was appointed Deputy Managing Director in July 1994, a position he would hold until 1999. During this period, he joined Côte d'Ivoire's nascent Rally of the Republicans party in 1995 and planned to run as the RDR candidate in the country's presidential election that year.In March 1998, while serving at the IMF, Ouattara expressed his intention to return to Côte d'Ivoire and participate in politics. After leaving the IMF in July 1999, he was elected President of the RDR on August 1, 1999, at an extraordinary congress of the party and was chosen as its candidate for the next presidential election.
However, controversy erupted over his eligibility to run for president. President Bédié described Ouattara as a Burkinabé and questioned his nationality. Ouattara claimed he was eligible, pointing to documents demonstrating that he and his parents were of Ivorian birth. He was accused of forging these papers, prompting investigations. His nationality certificate, issued in late September 1999, was annulled by a court on October 27. An arrest warrant was issued on November 29, although he was out of the country at the time.
A new constitution approved in July 2000 stipulated that presidential candidates must have both parents born in Ivory Coast. Because of this requirement, Ouattara was not allowed to run in the 2000 presidential election. These issues about his nationality became a major factor in the First Ivorian Civil War, which started in 2002. The controversial concept of Ivoirité, or Ivorian-ness, was used to discredit Ouattara by claiming he was not truly Ivorian because of alleged roots in neighboring Burkina Faso.
The 2010 Presidential Election and Political Crisis
In 2007, President Laurent Gbagbo confirmed that Ouattara could run in the next presidential election. Ouattara was officially chosen as the RDR's presidential candidate in February 2008 and was re-elected as the party's president for another five years. The presidential elections, originally scheduled for 2005, were repeatedly postponed due to civil conflict and were finally held in November 2010.On February 12, 2010, President Gbagbo announced the dissolution of the government and the CEI, amid claims of fraud during the voter registration process. The decision, as well as frustration regarding several localized cases of mismanagement of the voter list, sparked riots in several cities outside of Abidjan that resulted in at least 12 deaths. Following several weeks of negotiations, a new government was announced and a new head of the CEI was appointed.
After several years of delays, the first round of presidential elections was held on October 31, 2010. The election was hailed by all candidates and observers as peaceful and fair, with nearly 80% voter turnout and no significant irregularities reported. In the first round on October 31, 2010, Ouattara won 32 percent of the vote, placing second behind Gbagbo who won 38 percent. The two advanced to a second round of voting.
The November 28 runoff between Alassane Ouattara and incumbent President Gbagbo was again characterized by high voter turnout and largely peaceful participation by the Ivoirian people, and Ouattara was declared the winner by the CEI. Credible and accredited observers assessed both rounds as fair and free of irregularities that would have affected the results. Gbagbo refused to cede power, and a period of fighting ensued.
On December 2, 2010, the country's Independent Electoral Commission declared that Ouattara won the election with 54 percent of the vote. However, the next day, the Constitutional Council cited evidence of numerous irregularities, discounted a portion of the results, and declared Gbagbo the winner with 51 percent of the vote.
Most of the international community, including the United Nations which had certified the initial results, recognized Ouattara as the rightful winner. The Economic Community of West African States suspended Ivory Coast from all its decision-making bodies, and the African Union also suspended the country's membership. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution recognizing Ouattara as the winner of the elections.
Despite international recognition, Gbagbo, who had the support of the country's military and top levels of government, was sworn in for another term. Ouattara had himself sworn in as president and formed a parallel government based in an Abidjan hotel under the protection of UN Peacekeeping Forces. The political standoff sparked fears of renewed civil conflict and grew violent as fighting increased between forces loyal to each side.
The crisis created political, economic, and humanitarian dimensions that persisted for months. The African Union sent former South African president Thabo Mbeki to mediate. After prolonged violence and approximately 3,000 deaths, Gbagbo was arrested on April 11, 2011, effectively ending the crisis. In May 2011, the Constitutional Council reversed its previous decision and recognized Ouattara as the winner of the presidential election. Ouattara was formally inaugurated in May 2011.
First Term as President
Alassane Ouattara officially became the fifth President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire on May 21, 2011, having won 54.10 percent of the vote. His first term focused on rebuilding the country after years of civil conflict, restoring economic stability, and promoting national reconciliation. The country had been badly affected by the political crisis, and rebuilding the economy and uniting the people became major challenges.Ouattara implemented numerous economic reforms that transformed Côte d'Ivoire and improved living conditions for Ivorians. His government was praised by international observers for its efforts to restore unity following the bitter civil war. Under his leadership, the country experienced strong economic growth, averaging around 6 percent annually, and attracted significant global investor confidence. World leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, welcomed the end of the crisis and supported Ouattara's efforts at national reconstruction.
The year 2013 began with constructive momentum with respect to political dialogue — including within the context of the permanent framework for dialogue, bilaterally between the Government and the former ruling party, the Front populaire ivoirien (FPI), and among opposition political parties. The focus was on establishing new mechanisms to advance dialogue and negotiations with the Government. The President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, and his Government continued to take steps to further ease political tensions, alleviate insecurity and accelerate economic recovery. In his New Year’s address to the nation, the President underscored the importance of reconciliation and national cohesion and, to that end, expressed his Government’s determination to continue its dialogue with the political opposition and make further conciliatory gestures to those who supported the former regime.
Cote d’Ivoire’s security situation had significantly improved since the 2010-2011 post-electoral crisis, although some security incidents, linked to supporters of the former Gbagbo regime, have occurred, mostly in western Cote d’Ivoire. These incidents have not threatened the stability of the Ouattara administration. International organizations have alleged that government crackdowns following incidents of violence have sometimes resulted in violations of human rights. Gbagbo was captured in 2011 and faced trial in The Hague, before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
There was a perception that the Government was unable or unwilling to prosecute Ouattara supporters for crimes committed during the 2011 post-electoral violence, while numerous Gbagbo supporters remained imprisoned or were recently tried for their crimes. In an effort to jumpstart reconciliation and political dialogue, the Government had released several Gbagbo supporters from prison at various times, including some senior leaders of the opposition. In March 2015, former First Lady Simone Gbagbo was sentenced to 20 years in prison for “undermining state security” during the 2011 post-electoral crisis.
The political dialogue between the pro-Gbagbo opposition and the government continues sporadically, however reconciliation had proven to be difficult. Major challenges the Government must still address to maintain political stability include security sector reform, national reconciliation, and equitable non-partisan justice for all those accused of crimes during the 2011 post-election violence. Additionally, an update of the electoral code and voters’ list are both necessary to protect the country from political violence during the election period. Politically motivated demonstrations and strikes by workers’ unions in the education and transport sectors have occurred. In late 2014, thousands of soldiers went on strike protesting back-pay by blocking roads to major cities. The government took quick measures to appease their demands and prevented a further occurrence during 2015.
The ethnic and economic tensions that provoked Ivory Coast's civil war five years earlier flared again in October 2015 as the West African state prepared to hold its first presidential election since the violence that left 3,000 dead and displaced 500,000 others. President Alassane Ouattara was expected to win a second term after overseeing an economic revival that had fueled investment in infrastructure and foreign trade. But the threat of post-poll violence loomed amid growing complaints of inequality. The 2016 elections were expected to be a milestone in solidifying peace, after years of civil war and clashes that marred the previous elections in 2010. The two major parties, the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast and Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front, have both imploded during the months before the election, with several major figures breaking away and deciding to run as independents or form their own political party. Among the candidates are former prime ministers Pascal Affi N'Guessan and Charles Konan Banny, former foreign minister Amara Essy and former parliament speaker Mamadou Koulibaly.
There were eight presidential candidates, including two women, in the 25 October 2016 poll. Ouattara's main challenger during the election was likely to be Pascal Affi N'Guessan, the leader of Gbagbo's center-left political party and Ivory Coast's only major opposition group, the Ivorian Popular Front. N'Guessan was jailed by Ouattara's government for two years in the wake of the Second Ivorian Civil War. He was accused of crimes against humanity for his role in the violence that followed the 2010 election and awaited trial before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Re-election in 2015
Thanks to his positive performance and the economic transformation of the country, Ouattara was re-elected on October 25, 2015, in the first round with 83.66 percent of the vote, decisively defeating former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N'Guessan. His second term continued the focus on economic development and strengthening democratic institutions.
Controversial Third Term in 2020
Ouattara had initially announced he would not seek a third term, planning to pass leadership to a younger generation. However, following the tragic death of his chosen successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, in July 2020, Ouattara reversed his decision. He had considered putting forward Defense Minister Hamed Bakayoko but changed his mind due to alleged links to drug trafficking.
In July 2020, Ouattara announced his run for a third term in office. His candidacy was highly controversial, as the Ivorian constitution permits only two presidential terms. The Constitutional Court ruled that his first term under a different constitution did not count for the purposes of the two-term rule under the current constitution, thus allowing his candidacy. This ruling was based on the argument that a new constitution promulgated in 2016 had reset the term limit.
The decision led to violent protests in Abidjan and throughout the country. The October 2020 election was boycotted by a large part of the opposition, and saw the reelection of Ouattara with 95.31 percent of the votes under a 53.90 percent turnout. According to official figures, 85 people died during the unrest, though the opposition claimed more than 200 deaths. Critics accused Ouattara of tightening his grip on power and manipulating constitutional provisions to remain in office.
Seeking a Fourth Term in 2025
In June 2025, Ouattara was again nominated by his party, the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, to run for reelection in the 2025 Ivorian presidential election. He confirmed his candidacy on July 29, 2025, stating that he had received numerous calls from fellow citizens regarding his potential candidacy and that his decision was guided by the best interest of the nation.
The 2025 election, held on October 25, had been highly controversial. At 83 years old, Ouattara is seeking a fourth consecutive term, with critics arguing that this represents a further erosion of democratic norms and term limits. His candidacy reflects a broader trend across West Africa of aging incumbents remaining in power by changing or reinterpreting constitutional term limits.
Major opposition candidates were barred from running in the 2025 election. Former President Laurent Gbagbo was excluded due to a criminal conviction. Tidjane Thiam, a former Credit Suisse CEO and prominent opposition figure who had formed an alliance with Gbagbo, was barred because he held French citizenship when he declared his candidacy, even though he later renounced it. Former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro and Charles Ble Goude were also struck from the electoral register due to criminal convictions.
With the country's most high-profile opposition politicians ruled ineligible, Ouattara entered the election as the overwhelming favorite. The final candidate list included five contenders, but none represented an established party or had the reach of the ruling RHDP. The remaining candidates were Vincent Toh Bi Irié, former mayor of Abidjan; Pascal Affi N'Guessan, former prime minister; Jean-Louis Billon, Minister of Commerce; and Simone Gbagbo, former first lady and wife of Laurent Gbagbo.
The build-up to the 2025 election was marred by protests against the exclusion of major candidates. Opposition parties encouraged Ivorians to boycott the election and protest against Ouattara's bid for a fourth term. On one occasion, an Independent Electoral Commission building was torched. The government responded by banning demonstrations, restricting gatherings except for the five parties contesting the election, and deploying more than 44,000 security forces across the country. The judiciary sentenced several hundred people to three years in prison for disturbing the peace.
A night-time curfew was imposed in the region around Yamoussoukro, the political capital, and authorities stated they wanted to avoid chaos and a repeat of the violence surrounding the 2020 presidential election. Critics of Ouattara accused the government of cracking down on opposition, targeting opponents through legal means, creating a climate of fear, and restricting freedom of expression. The government insisted the judiciary acts independently.
Nearly 9 million Ivorians were registered to vote in the October 25, 2025 election, though turnout had only been slightly above 50 percent in the last two elections. Observers forecast Ouattara to win the more than 50 percent needed to secure victory in the first round, given the weakened opposition field. The election had raised concerns about democratic consolidation in Côte d'Ivoire, with critics arguing that repeated exceptions to term limits could weaken institutional norms in a country that had experienced coups and democratic backsliding.
Economic Record and Development
During his presidency, Ouattara had overseen significant economic growth in Côte d'Ivoire. The country had posted strong growth rates, averaging around 6 percent annually, bringing macroeconomic gains and attracting global investor confidence. As the world's largest producer of cocoa and cashew nuts, Ivory Coast had become a regional powerhouse and West Africa's second-largest economy under his leadership.
Ouattara's economic policies focused on infrastructure development, attracting foreign investment, and promoting economic diversification. His background as an international economist and former IMF official had been credited with bringing technical expertise to economic management. However, critics argue that while economic growth had been strong, political reforms have lagged, and the benefits of growth have not been evenly distributed across society.
Personal Life
Alassane Ouattara is married to Dominique Ouattara, who was born on December 16, 1953. She holds degrees in economics and property management and had a successful career as a business executive before becoming First Lady. She founded the AICI International Real Estate Group in 1979 and acquired the Jacques Dessange brand in the United States in 1996.
As First Lady, Dominique Ouattara had been deeply involved in humanitarian work. She founded the Children of Africa Foundation and serves as President of the National Oversight Committee for Actions to Combat Child Trafficking, Exploitation, and Child Labor in Côte d'Ivoire. She initiated the construction of the Bingerville Mother and Child Hospital, which was inaugurated in March 2018 to reduce maternal and child mortality. The couple had four children together.
Ouattara is a member of the Dyula people and practices Islam. His brother, Téné Birahima Ouattara, had served as Minister of Defense in his government. Alassane Ouattara had been described as a hard worker committed to transparency and good governance throughout his career.
Ouattara had received numerous international honors and awards throughout his career. He received the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Ivory Coast in December 2010. He had also been honored by neighboring African countries, including the Grand Cross of the Ordre de l'Étalon from Burkina Faso in July 2019, appointment as Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana in October 2017, and the Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali in September 2013.
Legacy and Assessment
Alassane Ouattara's political career had been marked by both significant achievements and considerable controversy. His supporters credit him with bringing economic stability and growth to Côte d'Ivoire after years of civil conflict, implementing reforms that transformed the country, and restoring international confidence. His background in international economics and experience at the IMF brought technical expertise to governance that helped stabilize the economy.
However, his tenure had also been characterized by persistent challenges to democratic norms. The nationality controversies that plagued his early political career, the violent post-election crisis of 2010-2011, and his controversial bids for third and fourth terms have raised questions about democratic consolidation in Côte d'Ivoire. Critics argue that his manipulation of constitutional provisions to bypass term limits, exclusion of opposition candidates, and restrictions on political freedoms represent a backsliding on democratic values.
The tensions between economic progress and democratic development remain a defining feature of his presidency. While Ivory Coast had achieved impressive economic growth rates under his leadership, many Ivorians, particularly young people, express skepticism about the political elite, citing persistent unemployment, economic inequality, and lack of meaningful representation. The concentration of power and aging leadership have become points of contention in a country with a median age of 18.3 years and one of the youngest populations in the world.
Ouattara's extended tenure reflects broader regional trends in West Africa, where several aging leaders have remained in power by changing or reinterpreting constitutional term limits. His legacy will ultimately be judged by whether the economic gains achieved during his presidency translate into lasting improvements in governance, whether democratic institutions can be strengthened after his departure, and whether the country can avoid a return to the ethnic and political tensions that characterized earlier periods of its history.
As he sought a fourth term at age 83, questions about succession planning and the transition to a younger generation of leadership remained unresolved. The circumstances surrounding the 2025 election, including the exclusion of major opposition figures and restrictions on political activity, have raised concerns among both domestic critics and international observers about the health of Ivorian democracy and the prospects for peaceful political transition in the future.