Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara says he will seek a fourth term leading the West African nation, which is due to hold elections in October.

The decision of Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara to run for a fourth term risks a return to a past era of "old guard dictator rule," an analyst warned on Wednesday. Ibrahim Anoba, an Africa affairs analyst at the Atlas Network,

President Alassane Ouattara has amended the constitution, sidelined opposition candidates and announced his bid for a fourth term. As Ivory Coast approaches the October election, the nation is bracing for tensions.

Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara said on Tuesday he will run for a fourth term in the West African nation's presidential election on October 25.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has announced he will run for a fourth term in October's election. In a statement, the 83-year-old said his health was not an issue and his candidacy was driven by a need to "preserve national stability amid ongoing security and economic challenges".

Ivory Coast’s 83-year-old president will stand for a fourth term in October, setting the stage for a contentious vote after opponents including former Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam were sidelined by court rulings.

Veteran Côte d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara has said he will seek a fourth term in the west African country, as tensions rise over the exclusion of many opposition candidates. Ouattara, 83, has led Côte d'Ivoire since 2011.