The political framework of the Ivory Coast

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Alassane Dramane OUATTARA (since 4 December 2010)
Prime Minister: Robert BREUGRE MAMBE (since 17 October 2023)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: Senate: September 2028
National Assembly: March 2026

Main Political Parties

There are many legal political parties in the Ivory Coast, but very few have secured national support. The Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) currently holds more than half of parliamentary seats. The main political parties are:

- Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP): party to the ruling coalition
- Democratic Party of Ivory Coast-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA): centre-right, the oldest political party, advocates democratic values. It is the main opposition party
- African Peoples' Party - Ivory Coast (PPA-CI): left-wing

Other parties include:

- Together to Build (UDPCI, FPI, and allies)
- Ivorian Popular Front (FPI)
- Liberty and Democracy for the Republic (LIDER)
- Movement of Forces of the Future (MFA)
- Pan-African Congress for People's Justice and Equality (COJEP)
- Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (EDS)
- Union for Cote d'Ivoire (UPCI)
- Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI).

Executive Power

The President, elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term, holds most executive powers, including the implementation of laws and the management of day-to-day affairs. The Prime Minister, appointed by the President, serves as the Head of Government and works under the President. The Council of Ministers (cabinet) is also appointed by the President.

The 2016 Constitution introduced the position of Vice President.

Legislative Power

Until the end of 2016 and the approval of a new Constitution, the legislative power in Côte d'Ivoire was unicameral. The parliament, called the National Assembly, consisted of 255 seats. Its members were elected in single or multi-member district elections by direct universal suffrage for five years. Since April 2018, the legislature has been bicameral with the creation of a Senate, whose 99 members are elected for five years. They are two-thirds elected by direct universal suffrage, while the president appoints the remaining third "among the former presidents of institutions, former prime ministers and national personalities and skills". The conditions for revision of the Constitution will be facilitated while the House of Kings and Traditional Chiefs will be constitutionalized.
Ivorian citizens enjoy very limited political rights. The president can dissolve parliament or veto its provisions.