An ex-first lady, a tycoon and a 'safe pair of hands' vie for power in a cocoa superpower

1 hour ago Share Save Nicolas Negoce, BBC Africa, Abidjan and Chiagozie Nwonwu, BBC Africa Share Save

Reuters President Alassane Dramane Ouattara is known by his initials "Ado" to his supporters

Dancing dominates campaign rallies in Ivory Coast but the pulsing energy and fervour belies concerns about the political landscape in the world's largest cocoa producer. Saturday's presidential vote in the West African nation is as notable for the candidates who have been banned from running as for those who are vying for the top job. While incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, a hero to some for bringing growth over the last 15 years to a country following a brutal civil war, is facing a backlash from those who see the 83-year-old's fourth-term bid as a slap in the face to democracy - even though his candidacy is allowed by the constitution. Prominent opposition leader Tidjane Thiam was disqualified in April after a court ruled that he had forfeited his Ivorian citizenship when he became French in 1987 - a ruling that he disputed - while former President Laurent Gbagbo was barred because of a 2018 criminal conviction. It was Gbagbo's refusal to accept defeat to Ouattara in a run-off vote in 2010 that sparked a post-election conflict that left more than 3,000 people dead and traumatis