Why was Alassane Ouattara’s decision to run in the 2020 election controversial?

Alassane Ouattara’s decision to run for a third term in the 2020 presidential election was highly controversial primarily due to constitutional term limits.12

While the constitution of Côte d’Ivoire limited presidents to two terms, Ouattara and his supporters argued that the promulgation of a new constitution in 2016 effectively reset the term counter, thereby rendering him eligible to seek another term. The opposition strongly rejected this interpretation, viewing his candidacy as unconstitutional.132

The situation was further inflamed by several factors:
* Candidate Disqualification: The Constitutional Council disqualified approximately 40 presidential hopefuls, leaving only four approved candidates, which led opposition leaders to call for an election boycott.134
* Ignoring International Rulings: The government disregarded rulings from the African Court on Human and People’s Rights that suggested certain opposition figures should be permitted to run.34
* Political Unrest: The decision sparked protests and violence, and following the election, opposition groups refused to recognize the results, leading to the formation of a short-lived rival government known as the National Transitional Council.134