(Ecofin Agency) - The Ivorian president was eagerly awaited on Tuesday, June 18, for his speech before Parliament. Amidst rumors swirling about a potential announcement regarding the 2025 election, he surprised everyone by making no statement on the matter.

In Côte d'Ivoire, President Alassane Ouattara has kept the political arena on edge regarding his potential candidacy in the 2025 presidential election. On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, addressing a joint session of Parliament and a politically charged audience, the president delivered a highly anticipated speech. Instead of addressing the upcoming elections, he chose to review the achievements of his three terms in office and outline future challenges.

"Proudly, Côte d'Ivoire is the 9th largest economy in Africa, the 3rd largest French-speaking economy behind Algeria and Morocco, and the second largest economy in West Africa after Nigeria," he affirmed, highlighting the progress made. While his speech was met with enthusiastic applause, the audience clearly expected more than just a retrospective.

With a touch of humor, Ouattara attempted to diffuse the palpable disappointment: "Protocol tells me you are a bit disappointed. We'll save that for next time."

With just over a year until the October 2025 presidential election, Ivorian political forces are gearing up. Laurent Gbagbo, a former political rival of Alassane Ouattara, has been nominated as the candidate for PPA-CI, despite his ineligibility due to a 20-year prison sentence in the BCEAO robbery case. Other serious contenders, such as former banker Tidjane Thiam, now heading the PDCI, and former Youth Minister Charles Blé Goudé, are also preparing for the race.

Within the RHDP (Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace), calls for a fourth term for Mr. Ouattara are growing. However, the question of his succession remains unanswered. While figures like Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet, former Prime Minister Patrick Achi, and Defense Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara are frequently mentioned in the media, the president has not yet designated a potential successor in case he decides not to run in 2025.