On August 7, 2024, during the celebration of Côte d'Ivoire’s 64th Independence Day, President Tidjane Thiam delivered a poignant and reflective address to the nation. His speech not only honored the core values of peace and solidarity championed by the country's first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, but also urged Ivorians to reflect on their past and envision a unified future.
Thiam began by paying tribute to the late former President Aimé Henri Konan Bédié, who passed away on August 1, 2023. He commended the nation for the respectful commemorations held in Bédié’s honor and expressed gratitude to those who contributed to these ceremonies, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging Bédié’s contributions to the nation’s development.
The President then focused on peace, a value deeply cherished by Houphouët-Boigny. Thiam reminded Ivorians that "peace is not just a word; it is a behavior." He illustrated his point by referencing the Human Development Index (HDI), a global measure of well-being, to demonstrate how peace has fostered significant progress in Côte d'Ivoire, while violence has led to severe setbacks.
Thiam highlighted Côte d'Ivoire’s declining HDI rankings since the late 1990s, attributing this to internal conflicts. He stressed that violence and conflict are never solutions, urging the youth to reject these destructive temptations.
The address also turned towards current and future challenges, particularly the upcoming 2025 presidential election. Thiam called for transparent, inclusive, and peaceful elections, advocating for a new approach to politics that sets aside insults and invective in favor of constructive debate on crucial issues for the country’s future.
As the leader of the PDCI-RDA, Tidjane Thiam also honored the Ivorian armed forces and athletes, symbols of national pride. He reaffirmed the PDCI-RDA’s commitment to building a united, tolerant, and prosperous Côte d'Ivoire. His call for solidarity, peace, and mutual respect resonated as a message of hope and determination for all Ivorians.
