Alassane Dramane Ouattara (born 1 January 1942 in Dimbokro ) is a political leader in Côte d'Ivoire. He represents northerners, mostly immigrant workers from Burkina Faso and Mali working in the coffee and cocoa industries. He is a Moslem.
Having only one parent of Ivory Coast nationality (the other from Burkina Faso), he was disqualified from the 2000 presidential elections by a law quickly drafted and upheld by the Supreme Court, regarding dual parentage. This is a major factor in the Civil war in Côte d'Ivoire.
When asked in an interview about Ouattara's nationality, Burkinabè President Capt. Blaise Compaoré responded, "For us things are simple: he does not come from Burkina Faso, neither by birth, marriage, or naturalization. This man has been Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire."
