In Côte d’Ivoire, the united party known as Rassemblement des Houphouetistes pour la Démocratie et la Paix (RHDP) was officially created, following a constituent general meeting held July 16 at Hôtel Ivoire d’Abidjan.    

The long-awaited party announced to be the leading political force, resulting from the union of several major parties including the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI) of Henri Konan Bédié and the Rassemblement des Républicains (RDR) of Alassane Ouattara, had recently raised political tensions between the two key parties. This, coupled with the absence of PDCI leader at the meeting, highlighted the non-harmonious climate within the ruling coalition. Let’s however note that the meeting was attended by several other executives of the party.

The general meeting comes a few days after President Alassane Ouatarra dissolved the government last July 4. Speaking on next presidential elections, he indicated that the RHDP will have to successfully commit a new team to lead the country following the vote. “Times are changing... President Bédié and I must work to prepare a new leaders’ generation in 2020,” he said, according to Fraternité Matin.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou