Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said on Sunday he will soon decide whether to seek a fourth term in October’s election.
Tens of thousands of supporters gathered at Abidjan’s Ebimpe Stadium, where Ouattara spoke amid rising political tensions.
“I will make a decision in the coming days, after careful consideration in my soul and conscience,” he told the crowd.
Cheers erupted as he acknowledged their calls for him to run again, though he stopped short of confirming his candidacy.
The 83-year-old leader, in power since 2011, was nominated on Saturday by his party, the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP).
His potential run has sparked controversy, following a court decision barring key opposition candidates from the October 25 vote.
Critics accuse Ouattara of consolidating power and using legal tactics to sideline rivals, charges the government denies.
Authorities maintain the judiciary operates independently, despite widespread scepticism among opposition figures.
Two main opposition parties launched a joint campaign Thursday, demanding reinstatement of their excluded leaders.
The alliance includes former president Laurent Gbagbo’s African People’s Party and the Democratic Party led by Tidjane Thiam.
Gbagbo, Charles Ble Goude, and ex-prime minister Guillaume Soro remain barred due to criminal convictions.
Thiam was disqualified over nationality issues, further deepening the electoral crisis.
Ivory Coast’s political landscape remains fragile, scarred by the deadly violence following Ouattara’s 2010 election victory.
Around 3,000 people died in clashes between rival supporters then, a grim chapter that still haunts the nation.
As October nears, the stakes rise for a peaceful, fair election in West Africa’s economic powerhouse.