Alassane Ouattara will run for a fourth term as president of Ivory Coast, thanks largely to constitutional changes he implemented himself in 2016 which reset term limits. Nine years ago, he justified the move citing the country's ongoing "security, economic and monetary challenges," which required "experienced leadership." Ouattara also previously said on several occasions that he wanted to step down from office.

"The security argument in the West African sub-region is well founded," said Alexander Stroh-Steckelberg, chair of the faculty of African politics and development policy at the University of Bayreuth.

"However, the security argument is not necessarily a good argument for extending the mandate," he told DW.

Ouattara's ruling party, the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), has again nominated him for the top job. The 83-year-old former banker has led Ivory Coast since 2011, and claimed in a video message on his X account that both the constitution and his........

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