The oldest party on the Ivory Coast celebrates its 75th anniversary. During the launching ceremony for the memorial service at the party’s headquarters, Executive Secretary Maurice Guikahué and President Henri Konan Bédié insisted on the need to “question” the functioning of the governing bodies.
as reported from Abidjan, François Hume-Ferkatadji
In front of the party’s activists and representatives of other opposition movements, Henri Konan Bédié gave a fifteen-minute speech with very political overtones. He condemned Alassane Ouattara’s “unconstitutional third term” and painted a bleak picture of the country’s recent history, speaking of a “torn social fabric” of a “disfigured Ivory Coast”.
He noted a tipping point: the coup in 1999, when he was deposed, and the PDCI was forced to relinquish power. “So many deaths in 1999! In 2002, how many deaths! In 2010 and 2011 so many deaths! In 2020, how many political refugees and young people sacrificed … “
If power is thus appointed, the president of the PDCI also insisted on emphasizing the need to reform the party. Minority in the assembly, absent from the executive branch, the old only party has lost its influence in the country. His election strategy in the 2020 election was strongly criticized, especially by young party officials.
Reflections and modernization of the party
Face election failures, “HKB” now wants to “modernize the party” and “strengthen internal democracy”. “The PDCI-RDA must resume its place as the country’s contracting authority,” insists Henri Konan Bédié.
Secretary Maurice Kakou Guikahué talks about a 6-month project during which the PDCI will start “reflection work […] from head to toe “. Maurice Kakou Guikahué specifies:” We must acknowledge that the recent actions have identified some weaknesses. As regards the real availability of our delegations on the PDCI – RDA’s major field activities. “
The restoration of this work will be held from 15 to 18 October 2021 during a national conference.
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