The Ivorian presidential election of October 2020 is fast approaching. For Alassane Ouattara, the political agenda was defined and precise. After solemnly announcing that he would not run for another term, he took care to prepare his succession. Amadou Gon Coulibaly is the cador chosen to represent the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) in the presidential election. However, the latter is prone to recurrent health problems as evidenced by its recent evacuation to France; a situation that risks completely disrupting the party's political agenda.
Amadou Gon Coulibaly, the current prime minister, who has been nominated as the ruling party's candidate for the next presidential election, is currently experiencing health concerns. Recently, he had been forced to quarantine after contact with someone who had been positive for Coronavirus. But a few days after his return to business, he is again obliged to comply with the sanitary requirements.
According to a statement from the Ivorian presidency, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly travelled to Paris on Saturday, May 02, 2020, for a medical check-up. According to the statement, "he's fine and will be taking exams to be back in a week. He should have done that check on April 15." It is also stated that this is not an evacuation, but a routine check following a heavy heart operation he underwent eight years ago. Since then, Defence Minister Hamed Bakayoko, another tenor of the party, has been acting.
Notwithstanding the explanations of the presidency, the health problems of the RHDP dolphin continue to fuel the web and provoke various controversies. For many, this evacuation is further proof of the lack of will of Ivorian policies, unable to strengthen the technical platforms of the country's hospitals and to put an end to these costly medical evacuations. Given the health crisis that imposes a state of emergency, budgetary constraints and the restriction of flights in many countries, including France, it is frowned upon that a presidential candidate should allow himself to break the rules for personal reasons.
The citizens highlight above all the concern about the health of the RHDP presidential candidate in October 2020. Many doubt the reasons for the evacuation. The popularity of this politician, already very little known, takes a hit. Alassane Ouattara's plan takes on water; political programmes are being disrupted by out-of-control vagaries.
The sure man of the Ivorian head of state has significant health problems that risk hindering his presidential candidacy and the political future of an emblematic party. At the same time, the health crisis continues to wreak havoc and forces the executive to submit to many constraints.
Add to this the case of Guillaume Soro (former president of the Ivorian National Assembly and candidate for the 2020 presidential election), a case in which the executive is suspected of pulling the strings, it is clear that Alassane Ouattara and his party the RHDP will not get away without scratches.
As a reminder, Guillaume Kigbafori Soro was sentenced to 20 years in prison, 4.5 billion CFA francs, and the deprivation of his civil rights for five years by the Ivorian justice, convicted of receiving embezzlement of public funds and money laundering.
He said after the conviction: "The travesty of trials we witnessed today is the ultimate proof that the rule of law is permanently buried by Alassane Ouattara." Clearly, these comments do not worry the authorities.
For the time being, the authorities seem calm and confident. Don't panic in the government, or at least that's what we're being let up to. This situation, for many, portends a crushing defeat for the RHDP in the October 2020 presidential election.
www.independantexpress.net
Eric G.