Fact Check: President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast has been in power since 2011 and is currently serving his third term.

Fact Check: "President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast has been in power since 2011 and is currently serving his third term."

What We Know

Alassane Ouattara has been the President of Ivory Coast since 2010, following a disputed election that year. He was re-elected in 2015 and, controversially, won a third term in 2020. His claim to a third term is based on a new constitution adopted in 2016, which he argues resets his term limits, despite the previous constitution limiting presidents to two terms (source-1, source-2). In the 2020 election, Ouattara received over 94% of the vote, but the election was boycotted by major opposition parties, leading to widespread claims that it lacked legitimacy (source-4, source-5).

Analysis

The assertion that Ouattara has been in power since 2011 is accurate, as he has held the presidency since his election in 2010. However, the claim that he is currently serving his third term is more complex. While he did win a third term in the 2020 election, this election was marred by controversy and allegations of illegitimacy due to the opposition's boycott (source-3). The opposition argued that his candidacy was illegal, citing the two-term limit established by the previous constitution (source-6).

Ouattara's justification for running again hinges on the interpretation of the new constitution, which he claims allows him to reset his term limits. This interpretation is disputed by many, including his political opponents, who argue that the constitutional change does not retroactively apply to him (source-7). The credibility of sources reporting on this issue varies; while major news outlets provide substantial coverage, the political context in Ivory Coast is fraught with bias, especially from sources aligned with either the government or opposition.

Conclusion

The claim that "President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast has been in power since 2011 and is currently serving his third term" is Partially True. While it is accurate that he has been in power since 2011 and won a third term in 2020, the legitimacy of that term is heavily contested. The circumstances surrounding his re-election raise significant questions about the validity of his claim to a third term, making the overall assertion more complex than it initially appears.

Sources

1. Alassane Ouattara - Wikipedia
2. Ivory Coast President Wins Third Term in Disputed Vote
3. Ivory Coast's Ouattara wins 3rd term, amid rising tensions
4. Ivory Coast election: Alassane Ouattara wins amid boycott
5. Ivory Coast's Ouattara wins third term, final results show from vote
6. Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara secures third term in disputed poll
7. Thousands protest in Ivory Coast after opposition leader ...