Côte d'Ivoire: the main opposition parties absent from the discussion table
The Ivorian Prime Minister, Hamed Bakayoko (here in March 2016).
SIA KAMBOO / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
To negotiate, the Ivorian opposition is counting on the international community.
The government had invited the parties and political groups to a "working session" on the "framework for organizing the poll", while the country is experiencing a political crisis as the presidential election approaches.
First scheduled for October 14, then on 15, the resumption of dialogue between the government and political parties was finally held this Saturday in a room of the prime minister.
But the main opposition parties or movements, PDCI, FPI-AFFI, EDS did not show up.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan,
François Hume-Ferkatadji
It was in front of an empty chair that Hamed Bakayoko took his place at the political dialogue table.
Only representatives of the RHDP, and other small, insignificant parties were present.
Before starting the discussions, the Prime Minister denounced
the strategy of the opposition
which consists, according to him, in creating a balance of power in the country, even disturbances, to lead to the postponement of the poll.
“
I want to tell them our faith in the outcome of this process, so that people stop thinking that there is going to be an exceptional situation for imposing things on us, we don't need that.
Let them come, so that we can discuss among brothers, in an Ivorian dialogue, because the solution will never come from outside.
"
A national dialogue is precisely what the opposition no longer wants, which has lost confidence in the government, and in the institutions, deemed to be subservient to power.
Pascal Affi N'Guessan, president of the branch of the FPI-recognized by the authorities, however denies any refusal to dialogue.
“There was
no longer any reason for this meeting, we all had to rely on international mediation.
Afterwards, if we have the beginnings of a compromise, we can meet to finalize, but I don't see why, when a mission arrives on Sunday, summon people on Saturday?
It didn't make sense, it was pointless.
"
A mission from Cedéo is indeed expected this Sunday in Abidjan.
On the same line, Henri Konan Bédié, president of the PDCI wrote in a letter, made public yesterday, wanting to “
count on the international community
”, the UN in particular, to find solutions to this political crisis.
■
Actions of civil disobedience, in the east of the country in particular
Some mobilisations took place calmly, others were punctuated by violence.
Report on the Daoukro-Bongouanou axis.
Faced with the long line of vehicles forming, the atmosphere becomes tense but everyone insists: they want to make their voices heard in a peaceful manner.
Jenna Le Bras
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