The president, who cast doubt on a possible candidacy for the October election, announced
give way "to a younger generation".
WEST AFRICA The decision fell during a speech that no one expected
much. “I solemnly announce to you that I have decided not to be a presidential candidate for
October 31, 2020 and to transfer power to a young generation", suddenly launched the Ivorian president
before the Parliament meeting in extraordinary congress. This announcement, which took everyone by surprise,
puts an end to months of suspense during which Alassane Ouattara and his entourage had let the
doubt about a possible third term.
Elected in 2010, re-elected in 2015, the Head of State had, in theory, the possibility of hanging on despite a
constitution which limits the number of terms to two. A change in the constitution in 2016 made
possible a new application. But pull on this old string, already worn out by many autocrats
Africans, would have been a stain for a president who has always presented himself as an exemplary democrat. In
renouncing, Alassane Ouattara, 78, paves the way for a democratic transition, a historic first
for the Ivory Coast.
A forbidden time, the deputies and senators then applauded for a long time, majority as opposition.
Mamadou Touré, deputy government spokesperson, insisted on the "lesson for the whole class
Ivorian politics", with a hint of regret because, according to him, "many felt that he had to
finish the job”. "It's a good decision that allows President Ouattara to come out with his head held high.
his political career (...) and to offer the opportunity to the new generation to prove themselves", has, for his
share, affirmed Pascal Affi N'guessan, former prime minister of Laurent Gbagbo. Abroad, the withdrawal of
Ivorian president was also appreciated, Emmanuel Macron welcoming his Ivorian counterpart "a man of
speech and statesman.
Strong pressure on rivals
The reasons that prompted Alassane Ouattara to rush his announcement remain mysterious. "He felt that
the political climate was tense, that there was tension in the country around his candidacy and he wanted
relax the atmosphere", analyzes Ousmane Zina, professor at the University of Bouaké. It is also a way
to get back into the regional game where the question of alternation arises again. In Togo, Faure
Gnassingbé has just been re-elected for the fourth time, while in Guinea, Alpha Condé is seeking to modify the
fundamental law to pave the way for a third five-year term.
The movement is also very political. By giving up, the Ivorian president is putting very strong pressure on his
old rivals, Henri Konan Bédié, 86 years old and Laurent Gbagbo, 74 years old with whom he monopolizes the scene
politics for more than thirty years. Moreover, he justified his choice, not by a need to respect a
any word given, but by that of transmitting power to the youngest. However, Bébié has already
largely leaked his desire to run, while Gbagbo, who is awaiting the judgment of the Criminal Court
international community to decide, did not rule out the idea. “For them, an application will not be
impossible but more difficult to explain to Ivorians who did not remain deaf to the words of the president
outgoing,” says the researcher.

The withdrawal also leads to many questions, starting with the succession. She should, in theory, come back
to Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, a faithful. But already within the Rassemblement des
Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), some underline the lack of charisma of this
big bourgeois of the north and its relative bad image. Several ministers do not hide their ambition.
But for the RHDP, as for the other parties, time is running out because the presidential election, scheduled for
October, now promises to be extremely open.