The results of the local elections in Côte d’Ivoire revealed a significant advance of the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), the ruling party. Of the 112 municipalities whose results have been announced so far, the RHDP has won more than two-thirds, while the main opposition parties, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) and the African People’s Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), only won about fifteen municipalities, the rest having gone to independent candidates.
This unsurprising victory for the RHDP is largely due to the disunity of the opposition, especially in the largest commune of Abidjan, where Adama Bictogo, president of the National Assembly, beat his rivals Michel Gbagbo and Augustin Dia Houphouet . However, the PDCI denounced irregularities in the electoral process.
Ministers such as Mariatou Koné, Kandia Camara and Amadou Koné also won their respective elections, cementing the dominance of the RHDP.
The results of the municipal elections as well as those of the 31 renewed regional councils have been revealed gradually. So far, the RHDP has won all the regional councils whose results have been published, further consolidating its position.
Despite this landslide victory for the ruling party, the opposition managed to retain a few strongholds, including the well-to-do commune of Cocody in Abidjan.
Overall, the voting took place in a relatively calm atmosphere, without major incident. However, a few altercations were reported, testifying to the ongoing tensions in the country.
These local elections are of particular importance as an indicator of the balance of power between power and the opposition, two years before the next presidential election scheduled for 2025. President Alassane Ouattara’s decision whether or not to stand for a fourth mandate still remains unknown.
The results will continue to be announced in the coming days, thus providing a more complete view of the outcome of the local elections in Côte d’Ivoire.
In conclusion, the RHDP clearly dominated the local elections in Côte d’Ivoire, while the opposition experienced mixed results. These elections are an important indicator of the current political landscape and the balance of power in view of the upcoming presidential election.