Ouattara basks in Ivorian landslide

ALASSANE Ouattara begins his fourth term as Ivory Coast's president with his grip on the west African nation seemingly stronger than ever after winning reelection with a crushing 89.77%.

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But the 83-year-old leader faces mounting questions over his age and succession plan, as well as widespread cynicism over a presidential vote that many voters swerved after his two greatest rivals were barred from standing against him.

His entourage is adamant that Ouattara wanted to face his predecessor and bitter foe, Laurent Gbagbo, as well as ex-Credit Suisse banker Tidjane Thiam at the ballot box at the weekend “to batter them once and for all”.

Yet the opposition believes Ouattara did all in his power to avoid a contest he could have lost.

The courts barred both Gbagbo and Thiam from running, the first for a criminal conviction and the second for questions over his French nationality.

Ouattara could have intervened by granting amnesty to Gbagbo and overturning Thiam’s exclusion by decree.

But the president declined, insisting he did not want to interfere in a matter for the courts - which his critics accuse him of rigging anyway.

A minister in Ouattara’s government argued that “Thiam and Gbagbo could have turned to plan B” and fielded proxy candidates instead.

But neither of their parties contemplated the prospect, nor that of a true anti-Ouattara common front at the polls.