With five months to Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election, former Abidjan prefect Vincent Toh Bi Irié has officially declared his candidacy.

He positions himself as a fresh alternative to the longstanding political elite, promising a break from the past and a new model of governance.

In a widely circulated video, Toh Bi Irié—dressed formally and speaking from behind a desk—urged the youth to support his vision for change.

Framing himself as part of a new political generation, he aims to challenge the dominance of familiar political faces in Ivorian politics.