Côte d'Ivoire: Tidjane Thiam and Jean-Marc Yacé in the running to succeed Henri Konan Bedié at the PDCI congress
The PDCI is holding its 8th Extraordinary Congress in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital. This congress is taking place after a political and legal tug-of-war. Initially scheduled for last Saturday, the congress was suspended at the last minute by the courts, following a complaint filed by two activists who disputed "irregularities" in the organization. Yesterday, Thursday, during a hearing at the High Court of Abidjan, the two activists finally withdrew their complaint.
Côte d'Ivoire: The PDCI meets in congress in Yamoussoukro to find a successor to Henri Konan-Bédié, who died on August 1, 2023. Here, tributes are paid outside the party's headquarters in Abidjan on August 12, 2023, to the former president (right) and first Ivorian president Félix Houphouet-Boigny, who died in 1993. © Sia Kambou / AFP
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with our correspondent in Abidjan, Bineta Diagne
The purpose of this congress is to elect a new president to succeed Henri Konan Bédié, who died on August 1st. In all, nearly 6,300 delegates are called to vote. They have the choice between two candidates: Tidjane Thiam and Jean-Marc Yacé, both in their sixties.
Tidjane Thiam promises to "make the PDCI more modern, more attractive and more efficient", in his words. The former head of Credit Suisse wants to "breathe new life" into the PDCI by introducing collegial management. His goal: to help the party win the 2025 presidential election.
Tidjane Thiam has several supporters, including Noël Akossi Bendjo, the party's charismatic vice-president, who withdrew in his favour. Added to this is the support of 47 deputies, who defended his programme to the congressmen in the interior of the country.
Read alsoCôte d'Ivoire: "It's Tidjane Thiam who makes the PDCI dream the most" (Sylvain N'Guessan)
On 9 December, during his meeting at the Félix Houphouët Boigny Foundation, Tidjane Thiam campaigned on the theme of gathering. "In disunity, failure is the only possible outcome. On the other hand, he stresses, unity will guarantee success."
Facing him is the newly re-elected mayor of the commune of Cocody, Jean-Marc Yacé. A rising figure in the party, he wants to rejuvenate the PDCI. Jean-Marc Yacé was an important financial supporter of Henri Konan Bédié for the 2010 campaign. He presents himself as one of his loyal heirs.
About ten days ago, he held a series of field meetings in Bouaké, Botro, Diabo and Agboville, with these key words: party unity, economic and social development and internal transparency. Jean-Marc Yacé also promised to solve the problem of the party's financial autonomy.
Read alsoCôte d'Ivoire: PDCI meets in congress to find a successor to Henri Konan Bédié
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