By Yadnom Awu, Asaba
President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast has been re-elected for a fourth five-year term after securing nearly 90 percent of the total votes cast in the country’s recent presidential election.
The 83-year-old leader’s victory, however, has sparked controversy, as the poll was marred by the exclusion of major opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, who were barred from contesting.
Ouattara’s re-election underscores the growing debate over leadership longevity in Africa, coming shortly after the electoral victory of 92-year-old Paul Biya in Cameroon, who has been in power since 1982.
