The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) emerged victorious following the 2025 presidential and parliamentary elections in Côte d’Ivoire. Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term, and the RHDP secured a majority of seats in the National Assembly. Women’s representation in the National Assembly remains well below the established 30% quota target.
On 27 December 2025, Ivorian voters were once again called to the polls to elect the 255 members of the National Assembly. It marked the third renewal of the lower house since the advent of the Third Republic in 2016.
The election was largely dominated by the ruling party. According to results announced by the CEI, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), led by President Alassane Ouattara, secured a comfortable victory, winning 197 of 255 seats, representing approximately 77% of the National Assembly. The party prevailed in 155 constituencies, thereby consolidating its control over the country’s principal institutions. The Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), led by Tidjane Thiam, came second with 32 seats (12.55%). This underperformance is partly attributable to the situation of its leader, Tidjane Thiam, who has resided abroad since his removal from the electoral register in March 2025.
The weakness of the parliamentary opposition is also explained by a boycott strategy. The African Peoples’ Party Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), led by former President Laurent Gbagbo, chose not to participate in the election, denouncing the electoral process. This decision followed numerous tensions, including allegations of fraud and irregularities, as well as reports of repression and arrests of opposition members, according to the PPA-CI.
Although there were 8,597,092 registered voters in the parliamentary elections, voter turnout was low. The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) estimated participation at 32.34%. According to several observers, this marked disengagement reflects voter fatigue and distrust towards the political process.
The legislative election took place two months after the presidential election held on 25 October 2025. Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term with 89.77% of the votes. There were four other presidential contenders; however, they “were not seen as viable contenders, as they lacked backing from a major political party and significant financial resources.” Former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam were excluded from the presidential polls. The former due to a criminal conviction and the latter for acquiring French citizenship. Voter turnout stood at 50% according to estimates.
Women’s Participation
The legislative elections of 27 December 2025 highlight the scale of the persistent challenges Ivorian women face in political and public life. Of the 1,370 principal candidates, only 181 were women, representing 13.21%. A modest improvement is observed among substitute candidates, where 243 women (17.73%) were recorded.
Following the 2025 elections, analysis of the composition of the National Assembly reveals significant generational disparities among the 34 women elected, who represent 13.4% of the 255 parliamentary seats. Age distribution data published by the CEI indicate a marked concentration in older age groups. Only one elected woman (2.9%) falls within the 25-34 age group, 21 (61.8%) are aged between 35 and 60, while 12 (35.3%) are aged 61 or above. This distribution underscores the near absence of young women in the political arena, a phenomenon described as “concerning.”
In the 2025 presidential elections, two of the five presidential candidates were women: former First Lady Simone Gbagbo (Movement of Capable Generations (MGC)) and former minister and prominent women’s rights campaigner, Ms Henriette Lagou Adjoua (Group of Political Partners for Peace (GP-PAIX)). Former First Lady Simone Gbagbo received 2.42% of the votes. MEWC has yet to obtain the percentage of votes Ms Henriette Lagou Adjoua received.
Running as the candidate for the Movement of Capable Generations (MGC), the party she founded. As a candidate for Movement of Capable Generations (MGC), the party she founded, Ms Gbagbo’s campaign focused on political reform, social justice, and mobilising women for greater political participation. Former minister Henriette Lagou Adjoua promoted a platform centred on peace and unity and “the strengthening of the social through health and education.” Their candidacies may be seen as politically significant and symbolically powerful, as women in Côte d’Ivoire remain largely underrepresented in national leadership.
Legislative and Policy Reforms on Women’s Rights
In recent years, Côte d’Ivoire has adopted legislation strengthening women’s rights, including their political representation through legislated gender quotas. Law No. 2019-870 of 14 October 2019 established a minimum quota of 30% women on electoral lists for proportional representation elections.
Concerning inheritance rights and harmful practices, Côte d’Ivoire adopted Law No. 2019-573 on inheritance, which regulates succession procedures and addresses long-standing inequalities rooted in customary and civil practices, and Law No. 2019-570 on marriage, which strengthens the prohibition of child marriage and establishes more equitable conditions for couples.
Women’s rights are further guaranteed under the 2016 Constitution. Articles 4, 36, and 37 respectively enshrine gender equality without discrimination, the protection of women and girls from all forms of violence, and the promotion of women’s representation in elected assemblies, as well as parity within public and private administrations.
Beyond the legislative framework, Côte d’Ivoire has implemented economic empowerment programmes to enhance women’s political participation. These include the FAFCI (Support Fund for Women in Côte d’Ivoire), established in 2012 and having supported over 420,000 women, and the DICEFA programme (Development of Women’s Economic Initiatives and Capacities), launched in September 2025.
Challenges to Women’s Political Participation
Despite legislative and institutional advances in recent years, Ivorian women remain underrepresented in decision-making bodies, and persistent gaps prevail. Following the December 2025 legislative elections, women hold 13.4% of the seats in the National Assembly, well below the established 30% quota target. There is also a near absence of young women in political and public life.
From a legal perspective, although the parity law represents progress, its implementation faces structural constraints. The 30% quota is particularly difficult to enforce in single-member constituencies, where only one seat is contested. In such contexts, women are often disadvantaged, thereby limiting the quotas’ practical effectiveness.
The persistent gap in women’s political representation can be attributed to a combination of structural, economic, political, and sociocultural barriers that reinforce one another. Historically, wealth accumulation processes have favoured men, who enjoy greater access to education, formal employment, and credit. Moreover, Ivorian political parties remain largely non-inclusive spaces where men systematically occupy strategic positions, while women are often relegated to logistical roles, far from decision-making spheres.
Conclusion
In the 2025 parliamentary elections, held just two months after President Alassane Ouattara’s re-election for a fourth term, the ruling RHDP secured a sweeping victory with 197 of the 255 seats (77%), thereby consolidating its control over the country’s principal institutions. Ivorian women’s representation in the National Assembly remains low, with women securing 13.4% of the seats.
Despite the adoption of legislated candidate quotas, Ivorian women continue to face challenges and significant barriers in political and public life. These include economic constraints, particularly unequal access to campaign financing; political and institutional barriers, with women often confined to secondary roles within parties; and sociocultural factors, including persistent gender stereotypes, traditional perceptions of women’s roles, and the disproportionate burden of domestic responsibilities, all of which significantly limit their capacity to engage in demanding political careers.