Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has reiterated his firm commitment to steer Côte d’Ivoire towards a path of accelerated emergence. He has issued a powerful call to all vibrant forces within the nation to contribute actively to the construction of what he terms the « Grande Côte d’Ivoire » or “Greater Côte d’Ivoire.” This directive, unveiled at the commencement of a new political cycle, underscores the head of state’s ambition to unify administrative, economic, religious, and community leaders around a shared national project. It comes as Abidjan endeavors to leverage a decade of sustained economic growth to achieve a new structural level of development.
A call for national cohesion from Ivorian stakeholders
The presidential appeal explicitly targets every segment of Ivorian society. Republican institutions, political parties, the private sector, civil society organizations, traditional chieftaincies, and the diaspora are all invited to align with this common endeavor. The chosen rhetoric reflects an inclusive vision of public action, where the success of the national project hinges on broad adherence rather than solely on the executive’s determination. This strategic framing is significant, emerging during a political period where the issues of stability and the continuity of public policies hold particular importance.
For Alassane Ouattara, this initiative is a natural extension of the core principles he has championed since 2011. These principles are centered on industrialization, opening up rural areas, and solidifying Abidjan’s position as a vital regional hub. The President aims to transform a favorable macroeconomic dynamic, characterized by an average growth rate exceeding 6% in recent years, into more tangible social benefits for households. The concept of the « Grande Côte d’Ivoire » encapsulates this dual ambition: strengthening economic indicators while ensuring increased redistribution of wealth.
A long-term economic and political vision
From an economic perspective, the promise of an expanded Côte d’Ivoire is linked to several major structural projects already underway. The port of Abidjan continues its significant expansion, while the port of San Pedro is enhancing its capabilities, particularly in the mining and agricultural sectors. The national highway network is extending northward, connecting towards Burkina Faso and Mali, with the strategic goal of reinforcing crucial West African logistics corridors. The energy sector, previously identified as a vulnerability following the supply challenges of 2024, is receiving substantial investments to secure production and diversify its energy mix.
The political dimension, however, is equally critical. By engaging the nation’s dynamic forces, the Ivorian president seeks to broaden the support base for his administration beyond the confines of the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party apparatus. This rhetorical outreach signals a strategic understanding: major infrastructure and economic transformation projects necessitate a minimal consensus to prevent their reversal with changes in political leadership. The emphasis on the nation, rather than solely on the presidential camp, aligns with this long-term perspective.
A strategy built on unity and consensus
The deliberate choice of vocabulary is not without purpose. By speaking of the « Grande Côte d’Ivoire », the executive aligns itself with a political tradition inherited from the founding president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, where national ambition was articulated through mobilizing slogans. This asserted lineage aims to anchor presidential action in historical continuity and to defuse criticisms regarding an excessive personalization of power. Nevertheless, the concrete implementation of this call will ultimately depend on the capacity of state institutions to translate political statements into operational mechanisms.
Observers note that the success of such an ambitious project requires measurable progress in governance, the business climate, and the fight against territorial inequalities. The northern and central regions of the country, which are less endowed with infrastructure compared to the lagoon areas, remain priority zones for development. Furthermore, the issue of youth inclusion presents a structural challenge in a nation where over 75% of the population is under 35 years old. The presidential appeal will achieve its full meaning if it translates into concrete mechanisms for associating the aforementioned stakeholders in decision-making processes.