Voters in Ivory Coast went to the polls Saturday as President Alassane Ouattara pursues a fourth term, with key opposition figures barred from contesting, raising concerns over the credibility of the election.

Five candidates are officially running for the presidency, but the 83-year-old Ouattara, who has led the world’s top cocoa-producing nation since 2011, is widely expected to retain power. If re-elected, he will extend his nearly two-decade rule. His party, the Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), also holds a parliamentary majority.

Ouattara has overseen post-civil war economic recovery, achieving annual growth of around 6%, driven largely by cocoa exports. Despite these gains, about 37.5% of the country’s 30 million people still live in poverty, and youth unemployment remains high.

Ouedraogo Issiaka, a scrap metal dealer in Abidjan, said he voted to “show my support” for Ouattara but sympathized with those whose preferred candidates were excluded.

Polling stations opened shortly after 0800 GMT following minor delays. Some 8.7 million voters were registered, with turnout in previous elections only slightly above 50%.

The election campaign has been overshadowed by the exclusion of major opposition figures, including former Credit Suisse executive Tidjane Thiam and former President Laurent Gbagbo, whose supporters have protested and faced arrests. Analysts warn the disqualifications echo past electoral crises that claimed thousands of lives in 2010–2011 and nearly 100 in 2020.

Ouattara has denied suppressing opposition, while international scrutiny has been limited. “The geopolitical context is favorable to him,” said Séverin Yao Kouamé, a University of Bouaké professor, citing other global priorities.

Among the candidates challenging Ouattara are former first lady Simone Gbagbo and ex-commerce minister Jean-Louis Billion. They have promised new agricultural policies and job creation, but analysts consider their chances of winning slim.

At his final rally in Abidjan on Thursday, Ouattara told supporters, “The growth has been huge, but we need to continue.” The former IMF deputy managing director has invested heavily in infrastructure and public services, earning backing from his supporters.

Vote counting will start immediately after polling ends, with provisional results expected within 48 hours.