December 8, 2025, will undoubtedly remain a pivotal date in Ivorian history. By solemnly describing his term as a "generational transition," President Alassane Ouattara broke a taboo and opened a door eagerly awaited by the entire nation. But an open door that one hesitates to cross inevitably becomes a dead end.

The term "transition" is not merely a stylistic flourish. It is a binding commitment. It gives rise to legitimate hope among millions of Ivorians yearning for a peaceful, orderly, and responsible renewal.

The lesson of missed opportunities

The history of Côte d'Ivoire has taught us a harsh truth: power that is not passed on ultimately fades away in suffering. Every major crisis in our recent past stems from an inability to organize succession.

1. The legacy of Félix Houphouët-Boigny: The Father of the Nation built a state, but left an institutional void upon his death. This silence surrounding the post-Old Man plunged the country into a brutality whose scars still mark the collective consciousness.
2. Bédié's lock-in: By choosing exclusion through the concept of Ivoirité rather than openness, Henri Konan Bédié saw his power swept away by the coup of December 24, 1999.
3. The obstinacy of Guéï and Gbagbo: One refused to step aside when the nation demanded it; the other preferred resistance to passing the torch. Each time, it was the people who paid the price in blood.

These trajectories prove that a system does not collapse under the blows of opposition, but under the weight of its own rigidity.

An act of historical lucidity

President Ouattara, who himself experienced the mechanisms of exclusion in the past, knows better than anyone the cost of a poorly prepared transition. His announcement is therefore an act of rare political foresight. He now has an opportunity his predecessors did not: to correct the country's course before handing over power.

However, presidential pronouncements, however strong, cannot be ignored. Without a defined framework, the promise becomes a risk.

For a genuine transmission process

A generational transition cannot be limited to a simple facelift or a change of names. To be genuine, it must be based on three pillars:

1. System change: Replacing faces without changing practices is just an illusion of change.
2. Inclusion of key stakeholders: Youth, civil society, the diaspora and experienced professionals must be the architects of this reflection.
3. A dedicated National Dialogue: We propose the establishment of a transparent and structured discussion forum. A country that refuses to discuss its succession is setting itself up for a crisis it will no longer be able to control.

“Peace is more than the absence of war. It is the will to understand one another.” — Félix Houphouët-Boigny

To write history rather than be subjected to it

The greatness of a statesman is not measured by the length of his reign, but by the strength of his legacy. By organizing his own succession in a calm and dignified manner, Alassane Ouattara would be setting a foundational precedent, an unprecedented historical event in Côte d'Ivoire.

Passing on power is not an admission of weakness or an abdication of responsibility. On the contrary, it is the highest act of sovereignty. History does not remember those who cling to the throne; it honors those who know how to offer it to the next generation to ensure the nation's continuity.

The word has been spoken. Now it's time to build the path.