Speculation over President Alassane Ouattara’s potential candidacy, the growing mobilization of the opposition-aligned Common Front for Democracy and Peace (FCDP), and tributes to the late former president Henri Konan Bédié are dominating Ivorian media coverage this Monday.
Pro-government publications are heavily focused on Ouattara’s possible bid for the October 2025 election. Le Jour Plus leads with the headline, “ADO’s highly anticipated ‘yes’ vote,” underscoring the growing anticipation among the president’s supporters. Le Matin, which aligns with the ruling party, highlights “mobilization in full swing” around endorsements, while L’Essor points to what it calls “the massive support of the Grand Centre” for Ouattara.
Meanwhile, the PDCI-RDA and PPA-CI coalition — operating under the banner of the Common Front for Democracy and Peace — is drawing extensive attention as it prepares for a peaceful march on August 2 in Abidjan. The demonstration is aimed at rallying opposition forces and calling for electoral reforms.
“Unite democratic forces,” PPA-CI figure Damana Pickass told L’ E Temps, describing the march as a platform to demand transparency and fairness ahead of the presidential vote.
Reactions to the mobilization remain divided. The opposition-leaning satirical paper Canard Enchaîné characterizes the march as a symbolic “show of force,” while pro-government daily Le Patriote condemns the alliance, calling it “contrary to peace and stability.”
At the same time, PDCI-RDA-affiliated outlets are devoting extensive coverage to the legacy of Henri Konan Bédié, who died on August 1, 2023. L’Héritage lauds, “Glory and honor to Henri Konan Bédié,” while Bélier Intrépide reflects on the late statesman’s career as a “great servant of the State,” revisiting his lasting impact on Ivory Coast’s political landscape.
With three months until the presidential election, the national press mirrors a country at a political crossroads — divided between speculation over Ouattara’s intentions, opposition mobilization, and remembrance of Bédié’s legacy.
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