The making of the RHDP

The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) was envisioned as the grand reunification of Félix Houphouët-Boigny’s political heirs, who had long been fractured by disputes over his enduring legacy. What began as a strategic coalition, forged from the alliance between Alassane Ouattara and Henri Konan Bédié – two former adversaries united against a common foe, Laurent Gbagbo – the RHDP has, over approximately two decades, ascended from the opposition benches to the highest echelons of power. Today, it stands as the preeminent and hegemonic force shaping Ivorian political life.