Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara has said that he will take a final decision whether to seek a third term in office or otherwise in July this year.
In 2018 the Ivorian leader said he will quit when his term ends in 2020. At the time he said he wanted to hand over power to what he calls a new generation of leaders in his country.
Elections are due in Ivory Coast at the end of October this year and many believe Ouattara intends seeking a third bid.
President Ouattara has however in the past said he will only seek a third term if veteran leaders of other political parties decide to do same.
He told the BBC in an interview that he “has not made his decision, but I have until the month of July to make a decision… there is no reason for me to rush.”
Free and fair election
Ouattara added that the upcoming “election will be free and fair and transparent.
The date is 31 October according to the constitution and anyone can run for the job provided that of course the constitution and the electoral code make it possible.”
Two years ago Ouattara revealed that he could run again in 2020 since his country’s constitution permits him.
He told the French magazine Jeune Afrique that “The new constitution authorizes me to serve two terms starting in 2020”.
The 76 year old leader however said in that interview that “I will only make a definitive decision then, based on the situation in Ivory Coast. Stability and peace come before all else, including my principles”.
Speaking in the main city Abidjan that same year the Ivorian leader said he would step down.
New Constitution
The new constitution permits two-term limit but since Ouattara won previous elections under the old constitution, that would not count against him.
In November 2016 Ivorian voters approved the new constitution but the process was boycotted by the opposition.
The old constitution required that both parents of any presidential candidate be natural-born Ivorian citizens. That requirement disqualified Ouattara from the 2000 presidential election, fuelling a split within the country.
One of his longtime political rivals, Guillaume Soro was last year declared wanted in his country.
Local media reported at the time that Soro may be facing prosecution because of his decision to run for president in the upcoming elections.
Ouattara rejected those reports saying “That is complete nonsense, everyone knows that. I think it is a process which is in the hands of court and he should go back and face the courts, that’s all. ”
Source: Africafeeds.com
