The President of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Pascal Affi N’Guessan, has reacted to the announcement of President Alassane Ouattara’s candidacy for the October 2025 presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire.

Speaking to Africanews, the opposition leader questioned the legality of the outgoing president’s decision to run for a fourth term.

“How can he justify that the Constitution allows him to run for a fourth term when the Constitution is clear—no one can serve more than two terms? At the time the Constitution was adopted, even the drafters of the document were explicit: this Constitution does not permit Mr. Ouattara to seek another mandate,” Affi N’Guessan stated.

He went on to say:

“Beyond the Constitution, Mr. Ouattara himself said on multiple occasions that he was ready to hand over power to a new generation. In 2020, he cited exceptional circumstances to justify his candidacy. So how can he now explain that he is once again seeking a fourth term?”

Affi N’Guessan also harshly criticized the current president’s legacy:

“He has become a problem. He has divided Ivorians, he imprisons people constantly, he has damaged our relations with neighboring countries. He is now a real problem for Côte d'Ivoire. This issue must be resolved so that the country can regain its unity and stability and rebuild its ties with West African neighbors—and then reposition itself on the international stage.”

The FPI leader concluded by affirming that Côte d'Ivoire is yearning for political change. He presented himself as the right man for the job, declaring:

“No one is better served than by themselves.”