Henri Konan Bédié, former Ivorian president and emblematic figure of Ivorian politics, passed away recently, leaving behind a thorny question: what future for the PDCI and Ivorian politics?
After his death, the President of the Republic decreed a ten-day national mourning. This period of mourning will not only make it possible to pay tribute to the memory of the former president, but also to reflect on the follow-up to political events in Côte d’Ivoire.
Within the PDCI, the political party founded by Bédié, the executives met to discuss the future of the party and the organization of the funeral of their former leader. One of the key issues concerns the appointment of a new interim president of the party.
Philippe Cowbly-Boni, the oldest vice-president of the PDCI, was appointed to assume this important role. With his 91 years and his long political experience, he will be responsible for overseeing the next party congress, which will have to elect a new president. The date of this congress, initially set by Bédié for October 19, is subject to debate. Some voices suggest bringing it forward or postponing it, while others warn against the risk of the party breaking up due to the high stakes linked to this election.
Bédié, nicknamed the “Sphinx of Daoukro”, led the PDCI for nearly three decades without clearly designating a political successor. This situation makes the succession all the more complex and uncertain.
For some observers, the main issue is to put in place a new president and a new executive secretary for the party. The statutes of the PDCI stipulate that the interim president can only remain in office for a maximum of six months, which underlines the urgency of finding leaders capable of guiding the party in this period of transition.
Beyond the PDCI, the disappearance of Bédié will also have an impact on the Ivorian political scene as a whole. His alliances and influence have played a major role in the country’s politics for many years. His disappearance leaves a void and raises questions about the balance of political forces in Côte d’Ivoire.
In this context, it is essential to follow closely the development of political events in Côte d’Ivoire