Ivory Coast counts votes in key election with incumbent Ouattara predicted to win fourth term

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Votes were being counted late Saturday in Ivory Coast after citizens cast their ballots to elect a new leader. Longtime President Alassane Ouattara is seeking a fourth term while his key contenders were barred from the race.

Although the Independent Electoral Commission announced a turnout of 50% based on initial assessment of ballots counted so far, the turnout was much lower in many ballot stations in the main city of Abidjan, according to residents and Associated Press reporters on-site.

Election results were expected between Sunday and Monday, according to Ibrahime Kuibiert Coulibaly, head of the electoral commission.

The election is the latest example of aging men continuing to hold power in Africa, which boasts the youngest population in the world. Cameroon’s Paul Biya, 92, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, 81, and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Mbasogo, 83, are some other older African leaders still in power.

Five candidates are jostling for Ivory Coast’s top job, but many see Ouattara, the 83-year-old leader of the world’s biggest producer of cocoa, retaining his seat. If he wins, he will extend his rule to almost two decades. Ouattara’s party, the Rally of Houphouetistes for Democracy and Peace, or RHDP, also holds a majority of seats in parliament.

Ouattara has overseen the country’s economic reconstruction since the civil war, achieving an annual growth rate of 6% backed by a boom in cocoa. However, 37.5% of the country’s 30 million people still live in poverty, and jobs are scarce for young people.

Ouedraogo Issiaka, a scrap metal dealer in the capital of Abidjan, said he is voting to “show my love and support” for Ouattara and his ruling party. “But I understand those who wanted to support someone else and didn’t vote,” said Issiaka, 45, referring to supporters of opposition candidates barred from contesting.

Some 8.7 million people registered to vote. The country’s last two elections saw a voter turnout of slightly above 50%, though analysts predicted a lower general turnout this time.

The election took place in a “calm and peaceful atmosphere,” Yemi Osinbajo, head of the joint ECOWAS-African Union election observer mission, said in a statement. Most opposition leaders and candidates had not publicly shared their assessment of the process as of Saturday evening.

Ouattara described the election as a “vote of trust” after voting in the suburb of Cocody in the capital city.

“It is really important to vote, especially to vote for your president. ... You have to do this in peace,” the Ivorian leader said.

The buildup to the election has been marred by protests against the exclusion of major candidates who could pose a challenge to Ouattara. The final list of registered candidates did not include Tidjane Thiam, a former Credit Suisse executive, and Laurent Gbagbo, a former candidate who still retains the support of a large section of voters.

Their supporters had taken to the streets, with several hundred people arrested. The crackdown has raised the specter of past electoral crises that left at least 3,000 people dead in 2010 and 2011, and almost 100 in 2020.

The disqualification of the key opposition candidates cast doubts on the credibility of the vote. Opposition supporters have accused the Independent Electoral Commission of working in favor of the ruling party.

Civil society leader Pulchérie Gbalet cast doubts on the credibility of Saturday's vote, saying: "It is clear that from the outset, there has been no election ... because the Constitutional Council chose the candidates on political grounds and eliminated the others in a dishonest and unfair manner.”

Ouattara has denied a crackdown on the opposition. He has attracted less scrutiny from the international community and from longtime partner and former colonial ruler France.

“The geopolitical context is favorable to him,” said Séverin Yao Kouamé, a research professor at the country’s University of Bouaké, noting other international priorities.

Four candidates challenge Ouattara, including Simone Gbagbo, a former first lady, and Jean-Louis Billion, a former commerce minister under Ouattara. They have all promised jobs and new agricultural policies. Analysts have said none has any strong chance of winning.

At his final rally in Abidjan on Thursday, Ouattara told his supporters: “The growth has been huge, but we need to continue.”

A former deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund, Ouatarra’s investment in the public sector and infrastructure has endeared him to his supporters.

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria.

An election official records poll result on a chalkboard at a polling station in the Yopougon suburb of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, as polls close during the presidential elections. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

An election official looks through a voter register at a polling station in Yopougon during the presidential elections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Officials count votes at a polling station in the Yopougon suburb of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, as polls close during the presidential elections. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

A woman casts her vote at a polling station during the presidential elections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, Opposition Presidential candidate casts her vote during the presidential elections in Cocody, Ivory coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, (AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde)

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara casts his vote at a polling station during the presidential elections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

A man casts his ballot during the presidential elections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara casts his vote at a polling station during the presidential elections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

A man casts his ballot during the presidential elections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara casts his vote at a polling station during the presidential elections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

A man sits under a campaign billboard of President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

A street vendor sells under a campaign poster of presidential candidate Simone Gbagbo in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Supporters of President Alassane Ouattara dance during a rally in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

President Alassane Ouattara speaks during his final campaign rally at Republic Square in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.

The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday," the airport's official X account wrote.

A spokesperson for the airport said the pedestrian, who jumped a perimeter fence, has died. They said the unidentified person was hit two minutes after entering the airport. The person is not believed to be an airport employee.

“We're stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”

The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”

The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now" before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”

Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.

“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”

Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal. The airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals.

Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted. It is expected to open later today.

The pedestrian death came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport. In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed Thursday night without providing details of the incident nor the name of the employee.

“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” the airline said. "We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”

FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)