By Ajong Mbapndah L
President Alassane Ouattara used Côte d’Ivoire’s 66th Independence Anniversary address to outline an ambitious vision for the country’s next phase of development, arguing that sustained economic progress must be matched by stronger democratic institutions, enhanced public services and continued national unity.
Speaking ahead of the August 7 celebrations in Yopougon, Abidjan, President Ouattara paid tribute to the country’s founding leaders, security forces and citizens while reaffirming his government’s commitment to economic transformation, institutional reforms and social inclusion despite mounting global and domestic challenges.
“Development cannot be sustainable without strong and credible institutions,” President Ouattara declared, making institutional strengthening the central theme of his Independence Day message.
The Ivorian leader described the annual celebration as a moment to honour President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the nation’s founding father, alongside generations of Ivorians whose contributions have shaped the country’s development since independence in 1960. He also praised members of the Defence and Security Forces, farmers, entrepreneurs, teachers, healthcare workers, civil servants, women and young people for their role in advancing the nation.
This year’s Independence Day festivities are being hosted in Yopougon, one of Abidjan’s largest and most vibrant municipalities, following last year’s celebrations in Bouaké. Ouattara said the rotation reflects the government’s determination to spread development across the country rather than concentrating opportunities in the economic capital alone.
“We are convinced that development must permeate the entire national territory,” he said, adding that balanced regional growth remains central to Côte d’Ivoire’s long-term national strategy.
The President acknowledged that Côte d’Ivoire continues to operate in a difficult international environment shaped by geopolitical instability, security threats, climate change and economic uncertainty. He also addressed the devastating floods that recently affected parts of the country, expressing condolences to families who lost loved ones and sympathy for thousands displaced or affected by the disaster.
In response, he announced accelerated investment in drainage systems, sanitation infrastructure, flood prevention measures and social housing programmes. He also pledged that investigations would continue into controversial eviction operations carried out outside legal procedures, stressing that no individual acting outside state authority would escape accountability.
“In the Côte d’Ivoire we are building, no one can act in the name of the State outside the State’s authority without facing the consequences,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Ouattara said the country’s economy remains among the fastest growing in both Africa and the world, underlining what he described as the resilience of Côte d’Ivoire’s economic fundamentals. However, he stressed that strong macroeconomic performance must translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ daily lives.
The government, he said, will continue expanding access to electricity, clean water, healthcare, education, affordable housing and quality public services while prioritising employment creation, improved purchasing power and protection for vulnerable communities.
Looking ahead, Ouattara outlined his vision of building what he described as a “Great Côte d’Ivoire”—a country defined not only by economic size and modern infrastructure but also by inclusive prosperity, stronger institutions and increased continental influence.
He linked that ambition to the country’s 2026–2030 National Development Plan, which recently attracted strong commitments from international development partners and private investors during a consultative financing meeting held in July.
The President welcomed the confidence shown by international partners, describing it as recognition of Côte d’Ivoire’s political stability, institutional credibility and sustained reform agenda.
Alongside external financing, Ouattara emphasised the importance of strengthening domestic financial capacity through the recently established Strategic Sovereign Fund for the Development of Côte d’Ivoire (FSD-CI). The fund, launched in April, is expected to finance strategic investments, support priority sectors and strengthen the country’s long-term financial sovereignty.
Institutional reform featured prominently in the President’s address, particularly changes to electoral governance following the dissolution of the Independent Electoral Commission. Ouattara said the reforms are intended to modernise Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral framework by separating responsibilities for election logistics, vote counting and oversight.
According to the President, the changes aim to increase transparency, improve confidence among political stakeholders and further consolidate democratic governance.
“Our objective is to strengthen transparency, increase the trust of all stakeholders and consolidate our democracy in a lasting way,” he said, urging citizens to support the ongoing institutional reforms while respecting republican institutions.
In a significant justice initiative announced during the national address, Ouattara signed two presidential decrees granting clemency to thousands of inmates. The measures include presidential pardons for 2,064 prisoners and sentence reductions for 2,597 inmates serving less than 36 months on minor offences, allowing a total of 4,661 common-law prisoners to regain their freedom.
The President said the decision reflects the country’s commitment to justice, rehabilitation and national cohesion.
Closing his address, Ouattara called on Ivorians to remain united around shared values of discipline, solidarity, hard work and mutual trust, saying the country’s future depends on the collective efforts of its people.
He reserved special messages for young people, women, entrepreneurs and farmers, describing each as essential to Côte d’Ivoire’s continued transformation.
“Together, let us pursue this ambition with determination and build a great nation for ourselves and for future generations,” he said.
As Côte d’Ivoire marks 66 years of independence, the President’s message sought to balance optimism over the country’s sustained economic momentum with a renewed emphasis on governance reforms, institutional credibility and inclusive national development—signalling that the next phase of the country’s growth agenda will depend as much on democratic resilience as on economic performance.
