Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara oversaw a military parade in the central city of Bouaké to mark the Ivory Coast’s 65th independence anniversary.
The event, largely closed to the public, began with Ouattara riding in a military vehicle. French, American, and Moroccan troops took part, underscoring the country’s continued military ties with Western powers — a stark contrast to the growing anti-Western sentiment across much of West Africa.
Ivory Coast, which gained independence from France in 1960, remains one of Paris’s last strategic allies in French-speaking West Africa. France has been forced out of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups, and recently ended its permanent presence in Senegal. Although France shut its last base in Ivory Coast in February, Ouattara is still seen as a staunch ally of Paris, drawing criticism from Sahelian leaders.
Ouattara’s bid for another term has reignited political tensions. He changed the constitution in 2016 to abolish term limits, paving the way for a third term win in 2020 after initially promising to step aside. His reversal came after the death of his chosen successor, then-Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly.
His main challenger, Tidjane Thiam, has been barred from running after a court ruled he was still a French citizen when he declared his candidacy, despite later renouncing his French nationality. Ivorian law prohibits dual nationals from contesting the presidency.
Supporters of Thiam had planned a protest in Abidjan last Saturday but postponed it following talks with local authorities. The march has been rescheduled for this weekend.
