Alassane Ouattara was born in Dimbokro, in the central region of Côte d'Ivoire, in 1942. At the age of 20, he obtained his baccalaureate in a high school in Ouagadougou, then the capital of Upper Volta. With an American scholarship, he continued his studies in the United States, earning a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In 1968, he joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington as an economist.
Five years later, he was recruited by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), headquartered in Paris at the time, before being transferred to Dakar in 1978. Alassane Ouattara worked at BCEAO as a project manager, advisor to the governor, director of studies, and later as vice-governor. In 1984, he returned to the IMF, becoming the director of the African department while also serving as a special advisor to the managing director.
In October 1988, President Houphouët-Boigny chose him to lead the BCEAO after the death of Governor Abdoulaye Fadiga. Ouattara's connections from his time at the IMF, including relationships with figures like Michel Camdessus and Jean-Claude Trichet, proved beneficial during this period of economic crisis in the region.
In April 1990, amidst economic challenges, President Houphouët-Boigny appointed Alassane Ouattara as the head of an inter-ministerial committee responsible for developing and implementing a stabilization and recovery program in Côte d'Ivoire. This program involved significant austerity measures, and Ouattara, a proponent of structural adjustment at the IMF, faced the difficult task of implementing these reforms.
In November 1990, President Houphouët-Boigny appointed Alassane Ouattara as the Prime Minister, making him the first in the country since independence. Despite his international reputation, Ouattara faced opposition within the ruling party, and his tenure was marked by protests, university unrest, and criticism for the austerity measures he implemented.
After the death of President Houphouët-Boigny in 1993, Alassane Ouattara's political fortunes took a turn. Disagreements with the new president, Henri Konan Bédié, led to his exclusion from the presidential race in 1995 due to a specially tailored electoral code. Despite attempts to block his candidacy, Ouattara remained a prominent figure in Ivorian politics, eventually returning to the country and participating in the political landscape.
The year 2000 saw a controversial presidential election, with Ouattara facing legal challenges regarding his nationality. The situation escalated into a political crisis, culminating in a coup attempt. Despite accusations against him, Ouattara denied any involvement in the coup and sought refuge in France.
In 2002, a rebellion erupted in Côte d'Ivoire, leading to further political instability. Ouattara's residence was attacked, and he again went into exile. Accusations linking him to the rebellion persisted, creating tensions in Ivorian politics.
The Pretoria Agreement in 2005, involving key political figures including Ouattara, led to amendments to the constitution, particularly Article 35, which had previously excluded Ouattara from elections. This paved the way for his potential candidacy in future elections.
In 2010, Alassane Ouattara contested the presidential election against Laurent Gbagbo. The electoral process was marred by disputes, with both candidates claiming victory. The situation escalated into a post-electoral crisis, eventually resolved with Ouattara assuming the presidency.