Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has announced he will seek a fourth term leading the West African nation, as tensions rise over the exclusion of many heavyweight opposition candidates.

Earlier, he had been officially nominated by his ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party as its candidate, but had not yet said if he would contest the October 25 election.

With the country’s most high-profile opposition politicians ruled ineligible , Ouattara is the clear frontrunner.

The 83-year-old president, who has led the country since 2011, declared his plan in a televised announcement on Tuesday.

“For several months, I have received numerous calls from fellow citizens regarding my potential candidacy in the presidential election,” he said.

Referring to the co

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