Ivory Coast President Ouattara, 83, in pole position for fourth term
But the 83-year-old former international banker is hoping a strong economy and a weak field of challengers will propel him to a fourth term, extending a period of relative stability after the civil war that brought him to power in 2011.
Ouattara made his announcement on Tuesday, saying his health was not an issue. With the country's most high-profile opposition politicians ruled ineligible, he is the clear front-runner.
A US-trained economist whose resume includes stints as governor of the West African central bank (BCEAO) and deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ouattara has long pitched himself as a savvy technocrat capable of delivering steady growth.
The numbers back him up, with the IMF projecting GDP to increase to 6.3% this year, in line with the average over the past decade.
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