Elections may strain Ivorian reconciliation efforts

Significance

The three main contenders are the ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) of President Alassane Ouattara, the African Peoples' Party-Cote d'Ivoire (PPA-CI) of former President Laurent Gbagbo and the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI) of former President Henri Konan Bedie. They are vying for control of 31 regions and 201 municipal communes.

Impacts

• Ouattara will not likely attempt to run for re-election in 2024 due to age, political pressure and constitutional term limits.
• Opposition weaknesses and incumbency advantages mean the ruling RHDP is likely to hold onto power past 2025.
• The opposition will intensify efforts to overhaul the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI).
• Ouattara will seek to leverage the economy's strong performance to his electoral advantage.