Côte d’Ivoire: the rhdp’s journey from coalition to political dominance

Tracing the RHDP’s ascendancy

Initially conceived as the unifying force for the diverse political heirs of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who had long contended over his profound legacy, the Rassemblement des Houphouëtistes pour la Démocratie et la Paix (RHDP) has significantly reshaped the political landscape of Côte d’Ivoire. This movement, originating as a strategic coalition between former adversaries Alassane Ouattara and Henri Konan Bédié, who found common ground in their opposition to Laurent Gbagbo, has, over two decades, transitioned from the fringes of opposition to the commanding heights of state power. The RHDP now stands as the dominant and unchallenged political entity within Ivorian public life.