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IVORY COAST – Former President Henri Konan Bédié passed away

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The former head of state and president of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) died on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. He was 89 years old. By dint of seeing him pass the years, we had almost finished thinking that he was immortal. According to several family sources, Henri Konan Bédié died this Tuesday, August 1 in the early evening, in Abidjan. Victim of a malaise in his fief of Daoukro, he had been transferred in emergency to the Polyclinique internationale Sainte-Anne-Marie of Abidjan (Sogemed-Pisam). It is a monument of Ivorian politics that disappears. At 89, he did everything, everything known. Ambassador to the United States in the 1960s, he was then Minister of Economy and Finance to Félix Houphouët-Boigny, before becoming President of the National Assembly, then Head of State at the death of the «Vieux», in 1993.

In 1999, he was overthrown by a putsch led by General Robert Gueï. This episode forever marked his conception of politics. This cigar lover, stingy in words, will not cease to want to recover this lost power, for him but also for his formation, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), of which he presided over the destinies since 1994.

As a reminder, slowly, Henri Konan Bédié is entering the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI). The opposition, almost entirely assembled, follows him in merry disorder. The former head of state knows he is expected. The red carpet was rolled out, the volume of the music was raised, and a small cushion was installed in his armchair to relieve his back. In the gallery, he listens to the speeches that follow one another, each repeating forcefully “that there will be no election under these conditions,” and then drops these words, of which he weighed all the weight: “In the face of forfeiture, a single slogan, irreversible: civil disobedience.”

“They have always been in competition”
On September 20, 86-year-old Henri Konan Bédié took a new step, appearing to find a new youth in adversity. As a presidential candidate on October 31, he will do everything to prevent Alassane Ouattara, 78, from running for a third term. Because there is no doubt: the rivalry between them may not sum up the upcoming election in itself, but it is an essential element.

They have been together for over 30 years. Despite that, they have never been friends. “They have always been in competition,” says a source close to the two men. “ There has always been an equivocal, detestable surveillance between them. But never a real esteem or affinity.”

Their common history marries that of the independent ivory coast
Bédié and Ouattara are very different. The president of the PDCI is silent – he has made it his trademark. He is also a local man, while the candidate of the Rassemblement des houphouëtistes pour la démocratie et la paix (RHDP), willingly affable, was built in an Anglo-Saxon world.

Their common history marries that of independent Côte d’Ivoire. It is a play in several acts. A political comedy that constantly sees the same characters return to the forefront. They are the main actors and master the workings like no one else. After fighting to ascend the throne of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, after allied against Laurent Gbagbo, they are once again enemies. I promise, this is their last fight.

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IVORY COAST

IVORY COAST – The PDCI-RDA march postponed to June 14 to support Tidjane Thiam

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Initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the major march of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the main opposition party in Côte d’Ivoire, will finally take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This postponement was announced by the party’s Executive Secretary, who points out that the decision came after discussions between the PDCI leadership and the authorities of the Abidjan department. The details of these discussions have not been made public.

This demonstration, highly anticipated by the party’s activists and supporters, aims to support the candidacy of its president, Tidjane Thiam, in the presidential election of 2025, and to protest against his removal from the electoral list. A decision that the party qualifies as unfair and unacceptable, arguing for the right of all Ivorian citizens, including those with dual nationality, to participate in the political life of the country.

The route of the march remains unchanged: the protesters will leave from the SOCOCE space of the 2 Plateaux, in the municipality of Cocody, to head towards the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The party calls for a strong peaceful mobilization in order to convey a clear message: demand inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections.

The removal of Tidjane Thiam and other opposition figures is mainly based on the issue of dual nationality, a legal provision that continues to be debated as the election approaches. The PDCI, which sees in Thiam a rally candidate capable of unifying the Ivorians, intends to make this march a highlight of its campaign and its democratic fight.

Photo credit: Tidiane Thiam page

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GUINEA – Visit of the African Union, renewed commitment for a successful transition

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Morissanda Kouyaté, received this Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Conakry a delegation from the African Union, on an official visit to Guinea. On this occasion, he reaffirmed the commitment of the transitional authorities to respect the deadlines set for the return to constitutional order, while stressing the historical and central role of Guinea in the construction of the Pan-African project.

« I am very happy. The African Union is at Guinea’s side to accompany and support the vision of the head of state, President Mamadi Doumbouya, in favor of Guinea and Africa, in the political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural fields, declared the head of Guinean diplomacy.

This meeting takes place in a context marked by the preparations for the constitutional referendum scheduled for next September 21.

Morissanda Kouyaté also recalled the founding involvement of Guinea in the creation of the Organization of African Unity, which became the African Union. “This visit materializes the commitment of the Peace and Security Council to accompany Guinea in a dynamic of ambitious political and diplomatic transformation,” he stressed.

The minister indicated that all actions related to the transition are currently funded by the national development budget, while calling for a broader mobilization of the international community. “We have requested a round table, called the Basketfront, to seek support to speed up the process. But this does not mean that we will give up,” he said, reiterating President Doumbouya’s willingness to scrupulously respect the scheduled deadlines.

He finally wanted to reassure on the efforts made to ensure an inclusive electoral process. “We are going through a difficult period, and that is why we want all Guineans to be registered in order to obtain a reliable electoral roll,” concluded Morissanda Kouyaté.

Source: guinee360 / Photo credit: Page Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guinea

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IVORY COAST

IVORY COAST AFRICA – The PDCI-RDA march postponed to June 14 to support Tidjane Thiam

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The list of presidential candidates in Côte d’Ivoire is expanding on Saturday, May 31, 2025. After the withdrawal of Tidjane Thiam, another candidate comes to replace him. The latter had submitted his application in 2020 but it was invalidated. Indeed, in his announcement of candidacy, the latter has emphasized the valorization of cultural and spiritual values of the country.

The presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire promises to be exciting. Some candidates have been withdrawn and others are being added to the list of candidates. Additions for a common purpose sitting in the chair. An objective that arouses the interest of Olivier Djè Bi Djè, who has submitted his candidacy. Thus, the deputy of the city of Zuénoula announced his candidacy for the presidential election of 25 October 2025 on 31 May 2025.

An application that was invalidated five years ago (2020) due to sponsorship non-compliance. However, this candidacy could be valid because the politician has well prepared his mount before launching. However, there is still some way to go. Indeed, to be sure, the member for Zuénoula of Côte d’Ivoire has an obligation to respect the electoral code by bringing together at least sponsorship in 17 independent regions.

Olivier Djè Bi Djè, in his candidacy announcement speech, unveiled his management plan once at the presidency headquarters. As the Ivorian politician is a manager, he opts for common management with a future of social justice, without forgetting peace and sustainable development.

He gave a pledge on leadership based on the identity of the country. It also intends to place cultural and spiritual values high on the agenda with traditional leaders. Finally, the new candidate calls for unity in order to address the country’s challenges as quickly as possible. He also counts on the population for a victory.

Source: africa-sur7 / Credit photo: afrique-sur7

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