Côte d’Ivoire: Don’t need a third term, President Ouattara

The Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara smashed again requests by supporters who want him to change the constitution to be able to stand for another third term in office. “Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and I concerted each other and we said no, we don’t need that,” President Alassane Ouattara said in the presence of the Liberian President.

President Ouattara who just won a second election in 2015 has always maintained that he will not stand for another third election even though voices within his own coalition and supporters urge him to do so.

Reports say President Ouattara was angered by his former Minister of Civil Services Bacongo Cisse who openly suggested that the country’s constitution be altered so that President Ouattara can run for another term, citing lack of charismatic leaders to take over from him when he wraps its current term in 2020.

Analysts argue that President Ouattara’s Monday remarks may stir debates in the ruling coalition RHDP as to the future candidate. Coalition party UDPCI has already chosen its leader Albert Mabri Toikeuse as the next candidate for 2020 presidential elections and expects RHDP to validate.

Analysts also expect the coalition party and former ruling party PDCI of Henri Konan Bedie to vest one of its leaders as candidate as former President Bedie pulled out of the 2015 race in favor of President Ouattara.