Fact Check: "President Alassane Ouattara has been in power in Ivory Coast since 2011 and is currently serving his third term."
What We Know
Alassane Ouattara has been the President of Ivory Coast since 2010. He was first elected following a protracted political crisis that culminated in civil war after the 2010 presidential elections. His initial term began in May 2011 after he was recognized as the legitimate winner of the 2010 election, which was contested by then-incumbent Laurent Gbagbo (source-1). Ouattara was re-elected in 2015, and he announced his candidacy for a third term in 2020 despite constitutional provisions limiting presidents to two terms. His third term was marked by controversy, as the election was boycotted by major opposition parties, leading to claims that it lacked legitimacy (source-2, source-3).
Analysis
The claim that Ouattara has been in power since 2011 is partially true. While he has indeed been in office since 2010, his presidency officially began in May 2011 after the civil conflict. The assertion that he is currently serving his third term is also accurate; however, it is crucial to note that his candidacy for this term was controversial. The Ivorian Constitution, adopted in 2000, limited presidents to two terms, but Ouattara argued that a new constitution passed in 2016 reset his term limits (source-4). This interpretation has been contested by his opponents, who claim that he ran illegally (source-2, source-5).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is generally high, as they include reputable news organizations and encyclopedic entries. However, some sources may exhibit bias, particularly those that focus on the political opposition's perspective, which could influence the portrayal of the legitimacy of Ouattara's presidency.
Conclusion
The claim that "President Alassane Ouattara has been in power in Ivory Coast since 2011 and is currently serving his third term" is Partially True. While Ouattara has been president since 2010 and is indeed serving a third term, the circumstances surrounding his re-election in 2020 are contentious and have raised significant questions regarding the legality and legitimacy of his candidacy.
