Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara is running for a fourth term in Saturday’s election, pledging to extend the country’s nearly 15 years of steady economic growth . His critics, however, accuse the government of orchestrating a campaign to silence opposition voices.

The election in the world’s biggest cocoa producer pits Ouattara, 83, against two former government ministers as well as the ex-wife and former spokesperson for his predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo. Ouattara is the only candidate with the backing of a strong political party, making him the clear favourite.

Two more prominent challengers, Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, were barred from running. Thiam has said the race was shaping up to be a “coronation”.

Ouattara, who has brushed off concerns about his

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