Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has secured a fourth term in office after winning nearly 90 per cent of the vote in a presidential election "marred by boycotts and controversy."
According to provisional results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission on Monday, the 83-year-old leader garnered 89.8 percent of the ballots cast, while his closest rival, businessman Jean-Louis Billon, trailed far behind with just 3.09 per cent.
The outcome had been widely expected after two major opposition figures, former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, were barred from contesting the poll.
Both men had called on their supporters to shun the vote, describing the process as unfair.
Voter turnout stood at 50.1 per cent, the commission said, adding that Gbagbo’s former wife, Simone Gbagbo, who was cleared to run, finished third with 2.42 per cent.
The provisional results will now be forwarded to the Constitutional Council for confirmation where the council is expected to review any legal challenges before announcing the final outcome.
Opposition parties allied to Gbagbo and Thiam have rejected the results, labelling the exercise a "civilian coup d’état" and declaring they would not recognise Ouattara as legitimately re-elected.
Ouattara has been in power since 2011, when he succeeded Gbagbo after a disputed election that triggered months of post-election violence.
Though initially limited to two terms under the constitution, a 2016 amendment allowed him to seek re-election in 2020, a vote that was also "boycotted" by the opposition.
His latest victory extends his 14-year rule, consolidating his position as one of West Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
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