Inside Côte d’Ivoire’s pivotal election: voices of hope and uncertainty

Ivorians voted on Saturday to choose their next president, in what is being seen as the most important election in West Africa. Côte d’Ivoire remains the region’s most stable and economically prosperous nation, and the last close ally of its former colonial power, France. Yet despite recent economic growth, the vast majority of people continue to struggle. In this episode, we speak to Ivorians about their hopes for the future.

Young people came in thousands for President Ouattara's meeting in Cocody, Abidjan, on 18 October, ahead of the presidential election, on 25 October, as the incumbent was expected to win again. © RFI/Melissa Chemam

In Spotlight on Africa this week, you’ll hear from the people RFI met and interviewed in Abidjan - the main economic hub of Côte d’Ivoire and its administrative capital  - located in the south of the country on the Atlantic coast.

Although Yamoussoukro is the official capital, Abidjan remains home to most embassies, the National Assembly, and one of the presidential palaces. 

Côte d'Ivoire's recent economic growth depends heavily on its cocoa and coffee producers as well as on the mining sector. Abidjan is also recognised as a cultural hub for the whole of West Africa.

In this episode, you’ll hear from campaign supporters - particularly young people and women - about their expectations for the post-election period and its outcome.

We’ll then head to the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny to hear from students and their lecturer, Wise Bogny.

A middle school student walks past campaign posters of Ivorian presidential candidates, in the commune of Treichville in Abidjan on 14 October, 2025. AFP - SIA KAMBOU

In Cocody, we also take you to the shop of Axel Emmanuel Gbaou, Le Chocolatier Ivoirien, the first Ivorian chocolate maker.

Axel Emmanuel Gbaou, founder of Le Chocolatier Ivoirien, in his office in Cocody, in Abidjan, here on 11 October 2025. © RFI/Melissa Chemam

We then head to the Maison de l'Art, in Grand Bassam, which opened in late September and which now hosts the first museum of African contemporary art in Côte d'Ivoire.

La Maison de l'Art opened in Grand Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire, this summer and already hosted thousands of visitors. © RFI/Melissa Chemam

Finally, in the last part of this episode, you'll hear from the AKAA, (Also Known As Africa) the African contemporary art fair in Paris, which closed on Sunday, with our arts journalist Ollia Horton. 

Paris fair celebrates modern African artists reinventing traditional crafts

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Episode mixed by Melissa Chemam and Erwan Rome.

Spotlight on Africa is produced by Radio France Internationale's English language service.