Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara votes in presidential election

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara cast his ballot on Saturday as voters headed to the polls for the presidential election.

The 83-year-old incumbent, seeking a fourth term, is widely regarded as the favourite amid a field of five candidates. Nearly nine million Ivorians are eligible to vote between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time. The election comes after key opposition figures were barred from running, raising concerns about the competitiveness of the race.

The remaining candidates are relatively lesser-known and lack the reach of the ruling party. Early voting in Abidjan proceeded calmly, with orderly lines forming outside polling stations.  Observers are watching closely for voter turnout and the implications for stability and governance in the country.