• Constitutional Council approves Ouattara, Simone Gbagbo, Billon, Don Melo, Lagou
• Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam barred from race over ineligibility
• Campaign begins September 10 amid tense political climate

Côte d’Ivoire’s Constitutional Council has validated the candidacies of five contenders for the October 2025 presidential election, its president Chantal Nanaba Camara announced on Monday, September 8.

The approved candidates are incumbent president Alassane Ouattara of the RHDP; Simone Ehivet Gbagbo of the Capable Generations Movement (MGC); Jean-Louis Billon, former PDCI member now running under the Democratic Congress (Code); Ahoua Don Melo, former executive vice-president of the PPA-CI; and Henriette Lagou Adjoua of the GP-Paix coalition.

The Council rejected the candidacies of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo (PPA-CI) and former PDCI leader Tidjane Thiam, both declared ineligible but unwilling to step aside. It also disqualified lawmaker Assalé Tiémoko and FPI leader Pascal Affi N’Guessan for failing to secure the required endorsements.

With the campaign set to open on September 10, tensions are running high. Excluded candidates Thiam and Gbagbo had already formed a common front in June to denounce what they described as political exclusion and to oppose a fourth term for Ouattara. The president defended his candidacy in July, saying: “The Constitution allows me another mandate and my health permits it.”

The RHDP is projecting confidence, but uncertainty remains. Jean-Louis Billon, now distanced from the PDCI, lacks support from Thiam, who has refused to endorse him. Simone Gbagbo’s chances of aligning with her ex-husband Laurent Gbagbo’s party also appear slim for now.

Observers are awaiting the next moves from Thiam and Gbagbo, who have said they will not abandon the political battle, though both rule out proposing alternative candidates.