Laurent Tchagba appointed as new coordinator of Alassane Ouattara’s RHDP party

Laurent Tchagba has been officially appointed as the new coordinator of Côte d’Ivoire’s ruling party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP).

The ceremony, held on Sunday, September 8, 2024, saw a large gathering of party militants, supporters, and key figures at the KBF field in Marcory, a southern district of Abidjan.

Upon his appointment, Laurent Tchagba, who also serves as the Minister of Water and Forests, pledged to unite all party members and supporters in Marcory under a common goal: securing victory for the RHDP in the upcoming presidential, legislative, regional, and senatorial elections.

“We are committed to rallying all RHDP supporters in Marcory around our shared ideal of victory,” Tchagba declared.

He further emphasized his dedication to ensuring that President Alassane Ouattara, whom he praised for his remarkable leadership, would be re-elected.

“We will work tirelessly to confirm the president of the Republic, so that all Ivorians unanimously support the candidate of the majority party, allowing our country to continue shining,” he stated.

Tchagba and his team have laid out plans to secure a first-round win for President Ouattara in the 2025 presidential elections, while also aiming to improve RHDP’s electoral performance in Marcory.

“We will cast a wide net to gather as many potential voters as possible for the party’s victory, confident that the upcoming presidential election will reaffirm our previous successes,” he said.

With voter registration being a crucial step in the electoral process, Tchagba has vowed to ensure that all eligible citizens in Marcory are registered and able to exercise their right to vote.

His team will focus on raising awareness among supporters to actively participate in this process ahead of the presidential elections.

Despite a previous defeat in the municipal elections in Marcory against the incumbent MP and mayor Raoul Aby, Tchagba reassured party members of his commitment to remain close to them through social, solidarity, and charitable actions.

Representing the RHDP’s executive chairman Gilbert Koné Kafana, Minister Belmonde Godo underscored the importance of Tchagba’s role as a unifier, stating, “President Alassane Ouattara chose you for this position because he sees in you a unifier.”

She stressed that Tchagba’s primary mission would be to bring all militants together in Marcory.

Godo urged unity, cohesion, and solidarity, emphasizing the need to put aside personal interests to achieve electoral success in 2025.

“It is together, hand in hand, by walking every street of Marcory, visiting our supporters, and reaching out to those who are not with RHDP, that we will secure victory in Marcory,” she affirmed.

Tchagba’s appointment marks a significant step in the RHDP’s strategic efforts to strengthen its presence in opposition-held Marcory and bolster support for the ruling party in the lead-up to the critical 2025 elections.