In Côte d’Ivoire, outgoing President Alassane Ouattara held his final campaign rally on Thursday at Place de la République in Abidjan-Plateau. Seeking a fourth term, Ouattara urged Ivorians to turn out in large numbers for Saturday’s vote.

According to Annie Risemberg of the Associated Press, analysts believe voter turnout may be low this year, as many Ivorians have grown disillusioned with elections that often deepen existing social and political divides.

Today, Côte d’Ivoire remains a major economic power in West Africa. However, inequality is rising, and 37.5% of the population still lives below the poverty line. Many citizens say they have not benefited from the country’s economic growth. The nation has largely been spared the political instability and extremist violence affecting its northern neighbors in the Sahel region. And while Saturday’s vote is not expected to bring major surprises, the weeks and months ahead will test the resilience of Ivorian democracy.

Under Ouattara’s leadership, Côte d’Ivoire has doubled its GDP, modernized infrastructure, and become West Africa’s leading gold producer. Yet, many Ivorians feel excluded from the country’s growing prosperity.

Several key opposition figures — Laurent Gbagbo, Tidjane Thiam, Charles Blé Goudé, and Guillaume Soro — were barred from running. During the campaign, the government banned public demonstrations for two months, while over 700 people were reportedly arrested by security forces.

The political climate remains tense, with ongoing debates about institutional trust and the rule of law as the nation heads into the polls. On Saturday, 8.7 million voters are expected to cast their ballots.