Ivory Coast president Ouattara easily wins re-election

Youssouf Bakayoko, the head of the commission, announced early on Wednesday that President Alassane Ouattara earned 83% of the October 25 vote.

He needed more than 50% to avoid a runoff. The closest opposition candidate, Pascal Affi N’Guessan, got 9%.

The presidential vote was the first since the 2010 contest in which Ouattara defeated then-president Laurent Gbagbo, whose refusal to step aside sparked months of violence that killed thousands.

Ouattara campaigned on the west African country’s economic rebound and security gains during his tenure, though critics say he has failed to foster reconciliation or reduce poverty.

Bakoyoko said the turnout was 54%, down from the 2010 first-round turnout of around 80%.