The talks will be led by Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko, who invites President Alassane Ouattara’s opponents to discuss. The latter re-election on October 31 to a third term is still contested by his opponents. This dialogue must take place while the PDCI’s Executive Secretary Maurice Kakou Guikahué has just been evacuated to France for health reasons. His condition deteriorated while he was still being held in Abidjan’s detention center.
as reported from Abidjan, Sidy Yansane
“His condition has deteriorated.” This is what the PDCI communication told RFI to explain the emergency transfer to Paris on Saturday night from Maurice Kakou Guikahué. Number 2 in the political formation was part of the wave of arrests on November 3 in the opposition. He was accused of undermining state authority and was detained at MACA, the central prison in Abidjan, until his hospital stay on December 11 in the cardiology department at Treichville University Hospital.
This medical transfer comes when Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko opens the discussion this morning with opposition parties and civil society in order to prepare for legislative elections planned for the first quarter of next year. These meetings follow first contact more than a month ago between head of state Alassane Ouattara and Henri Konan Bédié, who is still contesting the presidential re-election for a third term in October last year.
Ten days ago, the head of the PDCI announced that he would end this one-on-one dialogue and demanded that all opponents participate. By inviting all parties and civil society, therefore, the Prime Minister responds positively to this request. On the other hand, the historical party’s participation in these debates is not yet guaranteed, the power has not followed the other conditions, namely the release of political prisoners and the presence of an international body, such as the UN, to shape the dialogue.
.
