Abidjan, Ivory Coast — President Alassane Ouattara has secured a fourth term in office, winning a landslide 89.77 percent of the vote in Saturday’s presidential election, according to provisional results announced by the country’s electoral commission.
Nearly nine million Ivorians were eligible to vote in the poll, which took place amid heightened tensions in the world’s top cocoa producer. While the country has remained relatively stable compared to its West African neighbors that have faced coups and jihadist violence, the run-up to the election was marked by political unrest and sporadic violence.
Ouattara’s victory had been widely expected, as early tallies released on Sunday already showed him securing more than 90 percent of the vote. His two major rivals were barred from contesting, leaving him largely unchallenged in the race.
Entrepreneur Jean-Louis Billon came a distant second with 3.09 percent, while other minor candidates trailed far behind.
The 81-year-old Ouattara’s re-election extends his 14-year rule and is likely to renew debate over political succession and constitutional term limits in Ivory Coast, a nation that has seen past instability linked to disputed elections.