Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara Seeks Fourth Term Amid Rising Tensions and Disinformation Campaigns.
In a move that has sparked concerns about democracy and stability, Ivory Coast's long-serving President Alassane Ouattara has announced his candidacy for a fourth term in office. The decision comes after years of relative peace and economic growth since Ouattara took power in 2011, with many attributing the progress to his leadership.
However, opposition protests have been met with repression, with more than 200 demonstrators being teargassed and arrested in recent weeks. The government has also banned all protests, citing the need for stability ahead of the October 25 election. Critics say that Ouattara's actions are an attempt to consolidate power and crush dissent.
One of the key figures vying against Ouattara is Simone Gbagbo, a former first lady who has been dubbed "the iron lady" due to her tough reputation. Gbagbo has called for citizens to vote rather than engage in protests or boycotts, emphasizing the importance of peaceful democratic processes.
Meanwhile, concerns about corruption and disinformation have also been raised, with many accusing Ouattara's government of spreading fake news and using disbarred opposition leaders to discredit France, a longtime colonial power. The use of social media has also been exploited by pro-Russia and anti-France accounts from Burkina Faso.
As the election approaches, security personnel have been deployed nationwide, with diplomats and expatriates being advised to take precautions due to concerns about violence. In October last year, the influential Student Federation was banned after a student murder and cache of weapons were discovered, raising fears that the group's factions may intervene to support their preferred candidates.
Critics argue that Ouattara's actions are an attempt to undermine democracy and stifle dissent. The former president is 83 years old, with some comparing his age to that of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who was assassinated in 1993 after a long term as Ivory Coast's first president.
The opposition has expressed concerns about the electoral register being audited and for disbarred leaders to be reinstated. However, the government maintains that citizens are free to vote for or against Ouattara, emphasizing the importance of democracy.
In a move that has sparked concerns about democracy and stability, Ivory Coast's long-serving President Alassane Ouattara has announced his candidacy for a fourth term in office. The decision comes after years of relative peace and economic growth since Ouattara took power in 2011, with many attributing the progress to his leadership.
However, opposition protests have been met with repression, with more than 200 demonstrators being teargassed and arrested in recent weeks. The government has also banned all protests, citing the need for stability ahead of the October 25 election. Critics say that Ouattara's actions are an attempt to consolidate power and crush dissent.
One of the key figures vying against Ouattara is Simone Gbagbo, a former first lady who has been dubbed "the iron lady" due to her tough reputation. Gbagbo has called for citizens to vote rather than engage in protests or boycotts, emphasizing the importance of peaceful democratic processes.
Meanwhile, concerns about corruption and disinformation have also been raised, with many accusing Ouattara's government of spreading fake news and using disbarred opposition leaders to discredit France, a longtime colonial power. The use of social media has also been exploited by pro-Russia and anti-France accounts from Burkina Faso.
As the election approaches, security personnel have been deployed nationwide, with diplomats and expatriates being advised to take precautions due to concerns about violence. In October last year, the influential Student Federation was banned after a student murder and cache of weapons were discovered, raising fears that the group's factions may intervene to support their preferred candidates.
Critics argue that Ouattara's actions are an attempt to undermine democracy and stifle dissent. The former president is 83 years old, with some comparing his age to that of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who was assassinated in 1993 after a long term as Ivory Coast's first president.
The opposition has expressed concerns about the electoral register being audited and for disbarred leaders to be reinstated. However, the government maintains that citizens are free to vote for or against Ouattara, emphasizing the importance of democracy.
. Alassane Ouattara's move to run for a fourth term is shady at best. I mean, what's next? Lifetime presidencies? 
It's not like he's not been given plenty of time in office already - 14 years is a long time! And now he's trying to strong-arm his way to another term by crushing dissent and spreading disinformation online 
. Simone Gbagbo's message about peaceful protests rings so true, though. We need more voices like her who aren't afraid to speak truth to power 
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. The fact that they're using disbarred opposition leaders to discredit France is just low-key despicable 
. The student federation ban was a clear attempt to silence dissent and I'm not buying it at all 
. Ouattara's actions are not only undemocratic, but they're also putting the country at risk of instability and chaos 
. Let's hope citizens are awake and ready to make their voices heard on October 25 
.
, and Ouattara's government is using disinformation campaigns to discredit France and Russia at the same time. It's like they're trying to juggle multiple balls while running a tightrope act over a pit of snakes.
. The opposition is calling for reform, but Ouattara's government is doing everything in its power to suppress it.
. Is this really what we want? A president clinging to power like a dying fish on the shore? Or are we looking for someone who truly represents the will of the people? Only time will tell, but I'm betting it won't be Ouattara 
I mean, a fourth term is pretty much a done deal if you ask me, and it just doesn't feel right, especially with all these protests being met with repression and tear gas... 
The opposition is doing its part by calling for peaceful demonstrations, but it's hard to see how that can work when the government is basically shutting down any form of dissent.
But I don't think that necessarily means she's doing the right thing. We need to see more civil debate and discussion happening in this country before we can say it's a success.
. And with all these protests and arrests happening, it's like they're trying to send a message that dissent is not allowed. Simone Gbagbo is actually kinda cool, I guess 
. Like, who even knows what's true anymore? It's all about manipulating people's emotions and perceptions on social media. And France being used as a scapegoat? That's just low 
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. I mean, can't they just chill for once? 
. It's like, where's the fact-checking? Where's the critical thinking? 
And the opposition protests are getting really brutal with all the teargas and arrests... it's not fair to those people who want to make their voices heard 
.
She seems like a total boss, but I'm not sure if she's the best person to lead Ivory Coast right now. Like, what if she's just as corrupt or power-hungry as Ouattara? 
. It's like, how can people even trust the news anymore? 
Anyway, I'm rooting for peace and fair elections in Ivory Coast 
. The fact that protesters are getting rough treatment and arrested is a major red flag 
. Simone Gbagbo's message of peaceful voting is the way forward, but it's hard to trust the government when they're spreading disinformation and using social media to manipulate public opinion 
. With security personnel on high alert, I fear for the safety of innocent citizens 
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. Ivorie Coast's President Ouattara wants to run for a 4th term and it feels like he's trying to do whatever it takes to stay in power 
. But I'm still worried about corruption and disinformation spreading 
. It feels like Ouattara's team is using social media to spread false info and discredit France 
. I hope the opposition can keep pushing for democratic values and not get crushed 
. Let's keep our fingers crossed that democracy prevails 
.
. I mean, I get that people want stability and progress, but four terms? That's just too much power for anyone to hold onto. It feels like Ouattara is trying to hold on to his grip on the country for dear life 
. It feels like democracy is being undermined in some pretty sinister ways.
, but for now, I'm just feeling a bit uneasy about the whole situation 
i'm all for peaceful democratic processes, but it's hard to trust the government when they're spreading disinformation and using social media to manipulate people...