As Côte d’Ivoire prepares to head to the polls on October 25, 2025, for the first round of its presidential election, it is important to reflect on the country’s complex electoral history since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1990. Over the past three decades, elections have been marked by disputed results, exclusions, conflicts, and significant political turning points. Here is a look back at the six previous presidential elections.

1990: Félix Houphouët-Boigny Wins Amid Accusations of Fraud

After 30 years of single-party rule, President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, under pressure from both domestic protests and international donors, introduced multi-party democracy. The opposition was finally allowed to participate in the October 28, 1990 election.

Opposition leader Laurent Gbagbo, a history professor and former union activist, challenged Houphouët-Boigny under the banner of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI). However, the electoral process was marred by irregularities. Houphouët-Boigny was declared the winner with over 81% of the vote, but Gbagbo denounced widespread ballot stuffing.

The aging president secured a seventh term but passed away in office on December 7, 1993, at age 88.

1995: Henri Konan Bédié Elected in a Boycotted Election

Following Houphouët-Boigny’s death, Henri Konan Bédié, then President of the National Assembly, took over. He pushed for a revised electoral code that introduced the controversial concept of "ivoirité", requiring candidates to have two Ivorian parents and continuous residency in the country.

This move excluded Alassane Ouattara, accused of Burkinabé origin, from running. Both Ouattara’s RDR and Gbagbo’s FPI boycotted the election. Bédié won easily with over 96% of the vote, but voter turnout was just over 56%.

Amid growing discontent and military unrest, Bédié was ousted in a coup on December 24, 1999, by General Robert Gueï.

2000: Laurent Gbagbo Takes Power After Gueï’s Attempted Takeover

General Gueï initially promised a transition but tried to cling to power. After again barring Ouattara through a new Constitution that reaffirmed "ivoirité", Gueï ran in the October 2000 election. Despite initial results showing Gbagbo leading, Gueï attempted to have himself declared president.

Massive protests and defections from the army forced Gueï to flee. Laurent Gbagbo was officially declared president with 59.36% of the vote, in an election with low turnout (37%).

Two years later, in September 2002, a failed coup evolved into a northern rebellion, splitting the country in two. Despite several peace deals, the crisis persisted for years. A 2005 accord brokered by South Africa paved the way for Ouattara’s eventual participation in future elections.

2010: Alassane Ouattara Declared Winner After a Deadly Crisis

After multiple postponements, elections were finally held in October 2010. Gbagbo led in the first round, but Ouattara formed an alliance with Bédié and won the runoff with 54.1%, according to the Independent Electoral Commission and UN observers.

However, the Constitutional Council overturned the results, declaring Gbagbo the winner. Both camps claimed victory, forming rival governments.

The standoff escalated into a violent post-electoral conflict, resulting in around 3,000 deaths. Gbagbo was captured on April 11, 2011, and later transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he was ultimately acquitted in 2021.

2015: Ouattara’s Easy Re-election Amid a Weakened Opposition

With Gbagbo imprisoned and the opposition divided, Ouattara faced little resistance in the 2015 election. His main opponent, Pascal Affi N’Guessan, only garnered 9.29% of the vote.

Ouattara won with 83.66%, but turnout dropped to 52.86%, down from over 80% in 2010, reflecting voter fatigue and opposition disillusionment.

2020: A Controversial Third Term

In March 2020, Ouattara announced he would not run again, pledging to hand over to a younger generation. However, the sudden death of his chosen successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, in July prompted a reversal.

Citing exceptional circumstances, Ouattara announced his candidacy for a third term. The decision sparked major unrest, with opposition figures calling for civil disobedience.

Several opposition leaders, including Gbagbo and Guillaume Soro, were barred from running. On October 31, 2020, the election proceeded under tense conditions, with many polling stations shut down.

Ouattara won with 95.31% of the vote, but turnout was low, and the opposition largely boycotted the poll. Post-election violence left dozens of dead, and Affi N’Guessan was briefly jailed for allegedly plotting against the state.

 RFI