The results of the municipal and regional elections in Côte d’Ivoire, which were held in September 2023, have been announced and have generated many reactions. These elections were considered a barometer for the 2025 presidential election and the results confirmed the solidity of the ruling party, the RHDP, led by President Alassane Ouattara.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), the RHDP won a landslide victory by winning 123 out of 201 municipalities and 25 out of 31 regions. urban and northern regions.
However, despite this victory, the RHDP also experienced internal dissent, with several former party members choosing to run as independent candidates. This trend was particularly visible in regions such as Ferkessedougou and Kaniasso, where RHDP candidates were defeated by former majority supporters.
As for the opposition, the two main parties, the PDCI-RDA and the PPA-CI, won a total of 34 communes, while 42 were won by independent candidates. This breakthrough of the independent candidates marks a turning point in the Ivorian political landscape and underlines the difficulties of the opposition in mobilizing the electorate.
The left, represented by Laurent Gbagbo’s PPA-CI, was the big loser in these elections. The party only won two communes outside of its alliance with the PDCI-RDA, and suffered a crushing defeat in Yopougon, Gbagbo’s former stronghold. This disappointing performance reflects the lack of support and mobilization around the figure of Gbagbo, as well as the party’s difficulties in communicating effectively with voters.
Drawing lessons from these results, political parties must reflect on their strategy for the 2025 presidential election. For the RHDP, the landslide victory strengthens its leadership position, but internal dissension must be taken into account to maintain the party unity. As for the opposition, it must rethink its mobilization strategy and find a more effective political discourse to attract voters.
In conclusion, the results of the municipal and regional elections in Côte d’Ivoire confirmed the dominance of the RHDP and marked a turning point in the political landscape with the breakthrough of independent candidates. These results are a strong indicator for the 2025 presidential election and call for deep reflection on the part of political parties to adjust their strategy and meet voters’ expectations.