Incumbent Alassane Ouattara is the overwhelming favourite to secure a fourth term in Ivory Coast’s presidential election on Saturday, a task facilitated by the barring of several key opposition figures.

Ouattara, 83, has wielded power in the world’s top cocoa producer since 2011, when the country began reasserting itself as a west African economic powerhouse.

His allies are targeting a decisive win in the first round to avoid a run-off vote.

Nearly nine million Ivorians will vote between 8:00 am (0800 GMT) and 6:00 pm, choosing between five contenders.

“It is hard to imagine any surprise at the end of this election… since opposition heavyweights aren’t present,” Gilles Yabi of think tank Wathi told AFP.

Leading rivals — former president Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidj

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