Voters in Ivory Coast went to the polls on 27 December 2025 to elect all 255 members of the National Assembly in a legislative election deeply shaped by lingering political tensions from the presidential vote held two months earlier. The previous presidential election saw President Alassane Ouattara secure around 90 percent of the vote, a result strongly contested by the opposition, which alleged unfair exclusion of key rival figures following court rulings.
The parliamentary contest has thus become a de facto test of political strength for both the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) and a fragmented opposition. The RHDP, buoyed by its dominance in the outgoing assembly, is widely seen as poised to secure another comfortable majority, especially as it has fielded candidates in every constituency.
Opposition groups have responded to the parliamentary race in varying ways. The African Peoples’ Party (APP) linked to former president Laurent Gbagbo chose to boycott the vote entirely, citing ongoing grievances from the previous election cycle and questioning the fairness of the political environment. At the same time, a new political force, the ADCI, founded in 2024, has sought to disrupt traditional party dynamics by fielding dozens of candidates and positioning itself as a third bloc in the legislature.
With around 8.7 million registered voters expected to cast ballots, civil society and observers have framed this election as a crucial barometer for national political stability and the real strength of opposition voices after a contentious presidential poll. The legislative results will influence policymaking and governance for years to come and could either cement Ouattara’s agenda or signal shifts in the Ivorian political landscape.
