Ivory Coast ZZ rectangle

DIRECTDEMOCRACYS

World Political Organization

Founded on Direct Democracy, Collective Ownership and Shared Leadership

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRAMME

FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL

FOR IVORY COAST

Critical Analysis of the Current Situation

Concrete Solutions • Authentic Democracy • Permanent Popular Sovereignty

2025 Edition — directdemocracys.org

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT FROM DIRECTDEMOCRACYS

This document constitutes the official program of DirectDemocracyS (DDS) for Côte d'Ivoire. It was developed according to the founding principles of our organization: logic, common sense, rigorous study of reality, truth, consistency, and mutual respect among all peoples.

DirectDemocracyS is a global political organization that neither represents nor serves any government, financial group, foreign power, or special interest. We exclusively represent the Ivorian people in all their diversity—its 26 million citizens, 60 ethnic groups, religious communities, regions, and generations.

This program is founded on an absolute and immutable rule: all the wealth of Côte d'Ivoire belongs solely and forever to the Ivorian people. The power to decide the destiny of Côte d'Ivoire belongs solely and forever to the Ivorian people. No elite, no multinational corporation, no foreign power can or should have authority over the resources and decisions of the Ivorian nation.

We respect and protect all traditions, cultures, languages, religions, and minorities present in Ivory Coast. We impose nothing. We propose, we explain, we convince through truth and logic.

PART I: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION

1.1 Historical and Political Context

Ivory Coast is a West African country with an area of 322,463 km², with an estimated population of 26 million in 2025. Since its independence in 1960, the country has experienced a political trajectory marked by periods of relative prosperity, violent crises and chronic institutional instability.

Under Félix Houphouët-Boigny (1960-1993), Côte d'Ivoire enjoyed relative stability and sustained economic growth based primarily on cocoa and coffee. This model, dubbed the "Ivorian miracle," however, rested on a structural dependence on French markets and companies, on massive immigration of poorly integrated foreign workers, and on a single-party system without genuine democracy.

After Houphouët-Boigny's death, the dangerous and artificial concept of "Ivoirité"—invented to exclude certain political candidates—fractured Ivorian society, generating discrimination against northern populations and immigrants. This irresponsible political manipulation directly led to the two civil wars (2002-2007 and 2010-2011), which resulted in thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced persons.

The post-election crisis of 2010-2011, following Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to recognize his defeat, was resolved by a French and UN military intervention, highlighting the persistent foreign interference in Ivorian affairs — a reality that DDS denounces as unacceptable.

1.2 Current Political Regime: Critical Analysis

Alassane Ouattara has been the leader of Ivory Coast since 2011. In 2020, he violated the Constitution by running for a third term, arguing that the new 2016 Constitution had reset his term limits. The Constitutional Court, composed of members appointed by Ouattara himself, upheld this interpretation.

DDS clearly denounces this situation: when the holder of power controls the body responsible for validating the legality of their actions, there is no longer a rule of law or a true democracy. It is a subtle form of institutional authoritarianism.

Freedom of the press is formally guaranteed by the Constitution but seriously limited in practice by economic and judicial pressures.
The political opposition is fragmented, weakened, and regularly subjected to legal proceedings.
The promised national reconciliation has not been achieved: thousands of victims of the crises have not obtained justice or reparations.
The Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CDVR) produced reports without significant legal follow-up.
Former president Gbagbo, acquitted by the ICC, has returned but remains politically marginalized.

The country is heading towards a political succession in 2025 in a context of tension between the political heirs of the RHDP and the opposition parties, without any solid and independent democratic mechanism guaranteeing the transparency of the process.

1.3 Economic Situation: Strengths and Contradictions

1.3.1 Macroeconomic Performance

Côte d'Ivoire is the largest economy in Francophone West Africa and the second largest in the WAEMU zone. Its GDP reached approximately $70 billion in 2024. The growth rate was consistently above 6% per year between 2012 and 2024, making the country one of the most dynamic economies on the continent.

However, these flattering macroeconomic figures conceal deep and alarming realities that DDS analyzes without bias:

Growth primarily benefits an urban elite in Abidjan and foreign companies.
The Gini index remains very high: inequality increases proportionally to growth.
More than 39% of the population still lives below the poverty line (less than $1.90 a day).
The youth unemployment rate exceeds 60% in some rural areas.
The informal economy represents more than 50% of real economic activity.

1.3.2 Dependence on cocoa: structural vulnerability

Ivory Coast produces approximately 2.2 million tons of cocoa annually, representing 40-45% of global production. This dominant position should be an extraordinary strength. In reality, it is transformed into a vulnerability by the structures of international trade.

FUNDAMENTAL CRITICISM: The price of cocoa is set in London and New York, not in Abidjan. Companies like Barry Callebaut (Switzerland), Cargill (USA), Olam (Singapore), and Nestlé (Switzerland) control the processing, trading, and final sale of chocolate. Côte d'Ivoire exports 75-80% of its cocoa as raw beans—the least valuable form. It receives only a tiny fraction of the final value of a chocolate bar sold in Europe or America.

A concrete example: One kilogram of Ivorian cocoa beans sells for approximately 3 euros to the producer. A chocolate bar made with these beans sells for between 15 and 30 euros in Europe. The difference—80 to 90% of the value—leaves the country.

Actor	Captured Value	Location
Ivorian producer	5-8% of the final value	Ivory Coast
Local intermediaries	3-5%	Ivory Coast/UEMOA
Exporters/Traders	10-15%	Foreign multinationals
Transformers	20-30%	Europe/North America
Distributors/Brands	40-60%	Europe/North America

1.3.3 Other under-exploited or poorly exploited natural resources

Oil and gas: Ivory Coast produces approximately 40,000 barrels per day. Contracts with multinational oil companies (TotalEnergies, Eni, Vivo Energy) are opaque. Oil revenues are insufficiently reinvested in development.
Gold: Artisanal and semi-industrial production estimated at 25-30 tonnes/year. Heavy smuggling. Little local processing.
Natural rubber: 2nd largest African producer. Same pattern as cocoa: export of raw material.
Forest resources: Ivory Coast has lost 90% of its original forest cover since 1960. Deforestation continues for the benefit of export agriculture and illegal logging.
Fisheries resources: The Gulf of Guinea is being plundered by foreign industrial fleets (Chinese, European) in economic zones that should belong to the Ivorian people.

1.4 Social Situation: A Silent Humanitarian Emergency

1.4.1 Education

The adult literacy rate is approximately 47%. Despite real progress in primary school enrollment (around 90%), the education system suffers from serious structural deficiencies:

Chronic shortage of qualified teachers, especially in rural areas.
Insufficient school infrastructure: overcrowded classrooms, lack of books and equipment.
Poor quality of education: international assessments place Ivorian students among the least successful in the region.
Mismatch between education and the job market: thousands of graduates without jobs, while key sectors lack skills.
Higher education is marked by repeated strikes, dilapidated campuses and chronic instability.

1.4.2 Health

The Ivorian health system is structurally underfunded and geographically unbalanced:

Doctor-to-inhabitant ratio: approximately 1 doctor per 5,000 inhabitants (the WHO recommendation is 1 per 1,000).
Maternal mortality is 617 per 100,000 live births — one of the highest in the world.
Infant mortality is 60 per 1,000 live births.
Malaria remains the leading cause of death and illness.
Access to essential medicines is insufficient and expensive.
Abidjan's hospitals are better equipped but financially inaccessible to the majority.
The University Hospital Centre of Abidjan is constantly operating beyond its capacity.

1.4.3 Water and sanitation

Only 73% of the population has access to an improved drinking water source.
In rural areas, this rate drops to 58%.
Less than 24% of the population has access to improved sanitation facilities.
Water contamination is linked to agricultural pesticides, industrial effluents and untreated discharges.

1.4.4 Housing and urbanization

Abidjan, with approximately 6 million inhabitants, is a metropolis marked by extreme contrasts. The modern districts of Plateau and Cocody coexist with sprawling slums (Abobo, Yopougon, Koumassi) where millions of people live without reliable access to water, electricity, roads, or public services.

More than 60% of Abidjan's inhabitants live in precarious or informal housing.
Real estate speculation is pushing the most vulnerable populations to the outskirts.
The lack of sustainable urban planning exacerbates flooding, pollution, and insecurity.

1.5 The Question of Ivorian Identity and National Cohesion

Ivory Coast has more than 60 ethnic groups organized into four main families: Akan (east and center), Mandé (northwest), Gur/Voltaic (north), and Krou (west and southwest). In addition to these groups, there are significant immigrant communities from Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and Nigeria.

CRITICAL DIAGNOSIS: The manipulation of national identity for political ends (Ivoirité) has created deep divisions that have not been truly healed. Reconciliation is not only political—it is sociological, economic, and territorial.

Development inequalities between the north and the south remain significant.
Immigrant communities continue to face discrimination despite their major economic contribution.
Intercommunal tensions over access to land remain unresolved, particularly in the west of the country.
Young people in disadvantaged regions do not have access to the same opportunities as those in Abidjan.

1.6 The Question of Monetary Sovereignty: The CFA

Ivory Coast uses the CFA franc (XOF), issued by the BCEAO. This monetary system, a legacy of the French colonial period, is fundamentally problematic for several objective reasons that DDS analyzes rigorously but without ideology:

Monetary policy is set by the BCEAO in Dakar, with a structural influence from the Bank of France and the ECB.
The CFA/EUR exchange rate has been fixed since 1999 (655.957 FCFA = 1 EUR), preventing any competitive adjustment.
Historically, foreign exchange reserves had to be deposited with the French Treasury (a rule that is being relaxed but not eliminated).
The peg to the euro favors European imports at the expense of local production.
The inability to devalue penalizes exports outside the CFA zone during periods of intense competition.

DDS does not advocate a hasty exit from the CFA franc zone, which would be dangerous if poorly planned. We propose a sovereign and gradual roadmap towards genuine monetary autonomy for Côte d'Ivoire, implemented in the interests of the Ivorian people.

1.7 The Question of Corruption

Côte d'Ivoire ranks 99th globally on Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with a score of 37/100. This level of corruption has direct and measurable consequences:

Misappropriation of public funds intended for infrastructure, education and health.
Rigged public procurement processes favoring companies linked to political networks.
Dual judicial system: the law for ordinary citizens, negotiation for the powerful.
Police and customs corruption fuels an informal economy and reduces tax revenues.
Corruption in the mining and agricultural sectors allows for exploitative contracts benefiting multinational corporations.

PART II: DIRECTDEMOCRACYS PROGRAMME FOR IVORY COAST

2.1 Fundamental Philosophy of the Program

The DDS program for Ivory Coast is based on an absolute and non-negotiable conviction: the Ivorian people are the sole legitimate and permanent owners of all the wealth of Ivory Coast, and the only legitimate holders of the power to decide the destiny of the country.

This is not an ideology. It is the fundamental logic of any truly democratic system. Any government, any party, any group that acts otherwise betrays the people it claims to serve.

Our program is based on five interdependent strategic pillars:

Direct, authentic and continuous democracy for all Ivorian citizens
Real economic sovereignty over natural resources
Universal social justice and equality of rights
Sustainable development based on Ivorian skills
Sincere national reconciliation and the protection of all communities

2.2 Direct Democracy According to DDS: The Micro-Group System

2.2.1 Why representative democracy is not enough

Representative democracy—voting every five years to delegate power to a representative—is a profoundly inadequate system. In Côte d'Ivoire, as in most countries around the world, this system has shown its fatal limitations.

Elected representatives often act according to their own interests or those of their funders, not according to the popular will.
The ordinary citizen has no real power between two elections.
Elections can be rigged, bought, or manipulated.
The complexity of political, economic and legal decisions is used as a pretext to exclude the people from the real choices.
The media, controlled by economic and political interests, steer public opinion without actually informing.

DDS proposes a fundamentally different democracy: direct, permanent, competent, secure and accessible to all.

2.2.2 DDS Micro-Groups: Structure and Functioning

The micro-group is the basic unit of DDS democracy. Each micro-group is composed of 7 to 11 volunteer members, recruited from the ordinary population in each neighborhood, village, professional or cultural community.

Structure of a micro-group in Ivory Coast:

Members: 7 to 11 volunteer citizens, representative of local diversity (gender, age, ethnicity, religion, profession)
Absolute equality: each member has exactly the same decision-making power
Rotation of responsibilities: coordinator, rapporteur, and auditor rotate regularly
Total transparency: all discussions and decisions are recorded and public.
Progressive specialization: each micro-group can specialize in a specific area (agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, etc.)

Practical implementation in Ivory Coast:

In the Abobo district (Abidjan): a micro-group of 9 members including female traders, unemployed youth, teachers, elders and artisans meets twice a week to discuss local problems and formulate proposals.
In the village of Séguéla (Worodougou): a micro-group of 7 members made up of cocoa farmers, teachers and community leaders monitors the use of local cocoa revenues and proposes improvements.
In the commune of San-Pédro (port of cocoa): a small group of local entrepreneurs monitors contracts with foreign traders and warns of unfair conditions.

2.2.3 The Fractal Structure: From Micro-Group to National Level

Microgroups do not function in isolation. They are organized in an ascending fractal structure:

Level 1 (Local): Micro-groups at the neighborhood, village, or professional community level
Level 2 (Municipal): Micro-group councils by municipality or district
Level 3 (Regional): Regional assemblies of micro-groups (corresponding to the 14 autonomous districts of Ivory Coast)
Level 4 (National): DDS-Côte d'Ivoire National Council, composed of representatives elected by the lower levels
Level 5 (International): Connection with the global DDS structure

At each level, decisions flow from the bottom up. It is not the national elite that decides what is best for the villages — it is the other way around: the villages define what they need and the national structure coordinates the resources.

2.2.4 ddsAI and allddsAI: Technology Serving the People

DDS incorporates original and independent artificial intelligence technology to ensure that every citizen is properly informed before making a decision:

ddsAI — Complete and Independent Information:

Each member of a microgroup has access to ddsAI via smartphone or community terminal
ddsAI analyzes political, economic, and social proposals and presents their real-world consequences with concrete examples.
ddsAI identifies and reports false information, media manipulation, and hidden interests.
ddsAI works in French but also in local Ivorian languages: Dioula, Baoulé, Bété, Senoufo, Abron, and others
ddsAI is not controlled by any government, corporation, or party — it belongs to the global DDS community

allddsAI — The Democracy of Artificial Intelligences:

allddsAI is the AI governance system within DDS: the AIs themselves participate in verifying the quality of information
Several independent AI systems mutually verify their analyses to eliminate bias.
Members of the microgroups receive information certified by AI consensus, not by a single source
allddsAI guarantees neutrality and objectivity of information in an environment where traditional Ivorian media are often biased.

A concrete example of its use in Côte d'Ivoire: A small group of farmers in Man (Dix-Huit Montagnes) received a government proposal to lease farmland to a Chinese company for 30 years. Before voting, they consulted ddsAI. The system presented them with: the precise terms of the contract, comparable examples in Africa (actual results, not promises), the legal implications, the consequences for the environment and local employment, and existing alternatives. The small group then voted with full knowledge of the facts—and could block or modify the proposal if it harmed their interests.

2.2.5 Protection Against Media Manipulation and Brainwashing

One of the greatest dangers to democracy in Ivory Coast — as everywhere in the world — is the manipulation of public opinion by media controlled by political and economic interests.

The DDS platform actively protects its members and their decisions.

All microgroup deliberations take place on secure DDS platforms, protected from any external interference.
Members have access to comparative analyses of different information sources, with identification of biases
The system automatically alerts you when a disinformation campaign targeting a topic under discussion is detected.
Members can report and have any suspicious information verified
Voting decisions are cryptographically secured against any falsification.

2.3 Political Program

2.3.1 Constitutional Reform

DDS proposes a new Constitution for Côte d'Ivoire that incorporates the principles of direct democracy and irreversibly guarantees popular sovereignty. Key elements:

Strict limitation of presidential terms to two, non-cumulative and without possibility of resetting
Direct election of constitutional judges by the people, to break the presidents' control over the supreme court
Mandatory referendums for all major decisions (natural resource contracts exceeding USD 50 million, international treaties affecting sovereignty, constitutional reforms)
Popular right of recall: citizens can initiate the recall of an elected official with 15% verified signatures.
Total budget transparency: the state budget is accessible online, in real time, to every citizen.
Genuine decentralization: the 31 regions receive a guaranteed percentage of the revenue from their local natural resources

2.3.2 Independent Justice

The Ivorian judicial system suffers from a lack of genuine independence from the executive branch. DDS proposes:

Appointment of judges based on a strict meritocratic competition, validated by a panel of representatives from micro-groups and independent legal experts
Creation of a truly independent Constitutional Court, whose members are elected by the entire judiciary
Creation of an Anti-Corruption Attorney General completely independent of the government, appointed by referendum
Prison system reform: reduction of abusive pre-trial detention, improvement of detention conditions
Free access to legal aid for any citizen who is financially unable to defend themselves

2.3.3 Genuine National Reconciliation

Ivorian reconciliation cannot be a mere political discourse. It requires concrete and measurable actions:

Truth and Justice Commission: resumption of the CDVR's work with expanded powers, including the possibility of criminal prosecutions for serious crimes
Victims' Compensation Fund: creation of a 500 billion FCFA public fund over 10 years for the direct victims of conflicts
Intercommunity Dialogue Program: regular forums between communities, facilitated by cultural mediators trained by DDS
Land reform in the north and west: legal and equitable resolution of land disputes that fuel tensions
Reintegration of veterans: a vocational training and economic integration program for all ex-combatants from both sides
National commemoration of the victims: a national day of remembrance, including all victims without political distinction

2.3.4 Local Democracy and Decentralization

Direct election by universal suffrage of all mayors and presidents of regional councils
Participatory budgeting is mandatory in all municipalities: 20% of the local budget is decided directly by citizens through micro-group assemblies.
Citizen oversight councils in each municipality, composed of members randomly selected from the DDS micro-groups
Right of popular legislative initiative: any proposal signed by 50,000 citizens must be examined by Parliament within 90 days

2.4 Economic Program

2.4.1 Cocoa Sector Revolution

Transforming Côte d'Ivoire's relationship with its primary resource is the absolute economic priority. DDS proposes a four-phase strategy:

Phase 1 (Years 1-3): Strengthening the negotiating position

Creation of a National Cocoa Council composed mainly of producers (and not civil servants) with real power to negotiate prices
Full and mandatory publication of all contracts with international traders and processors (absolute transparency)
A comprehensive audit of current sales conditions: identification of margins captured abroad
Creation of an online direct sales platform to connect Ivorian producers with international buyers, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries.

Phase 2 (Years 3-6): Development of local transformation

Objective: to process 50% of Ivorian cocoa locally by 2030 (compared to 25-30% currently)
Construction of 5 new public processing plants in partnership with producer cooperatives
Training of 10,000 technicians specializing in food processing
Creation of a national brand of premium Ivorian chocolate, sold directly in Europe and Asia
A $2 billion investment (financed by oil revenues and sovereign bonds) in the sector

Phase 3 (Years 6-10): Diversification and added value

Development of high-end Ivorian chocolate production (growing global luxury chocolate market)
Creation of a cocoa tourism route: agritourism, artisanal chocolate factories, cultural experiences
Development of cocoa butter cosmetics: a high value-added sector with low initial investment
Agricultural research and development: disease-resistant varieties, improved yields, certified organic farming

Phase 4 (Years 10+): Total sovereignty over the supply chain

Objective: that 80% of the value created by Ivorian cocoa remains in Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast sets its own reference prices, no longer London or New York
Coordination with other African producers (Ghana, Cameroon) for an OPEC of African cocoa

2.4.2 Sovereignty over Oil and Mineral Resources

A concrete example of oil contract renegotiation: The DDS model, inspired by Norwegian and Botswanan practice, proposes that the Ivorian state hold a minimum 51% stake in any natural resource exploitation project. In 2025, many Ivorian contracts grant the state a significantly lower stake.

Renegotiation of all existing mining and oil contracts upon their renewal, with a minimum clause of 51% for the National Resources Cooperative (new entity)
Creation of an Ivorian Sovereign Wealth Fund: 30% of all extractive revenues are allocated to this fund, which is managed by a board composed of representatives of micro-groups and independent experts.
Local content requirement in all extractive contracts: minimum 60% Ivorian workforce, 40% local suppliers
Total transparency: monthly online publication of revenues received from each extractive contract
Moratorium on new forest concessions until a complete revision of the forest cadastre

2.4.3 Economic Diversification

Ivory Coast must reduce its dependence on export agriculture. DDS proposes a 15-year diversification program:

Manufacturing industry:

Social Industrial Zones (ZIS): creation of 10 industrial zones in underdeveloped regions, with tax advantages but obligations for local employment and social standards
Priority given to the food processing, textile, construction materials, and packaging industries.
A 5-year incubation program for 5,000 manufacturing SMEs, including funding, training, and support.

Digital economy:

Objective: To make Abidjan a leading African technology hub by 2035
Training 100,000 developers, data scientists and digital technicians over 10 years
Infrastructure: nationwide 5G coverage by 2028, fiber optics in all regional capitals by 2027
Creation of a 500 billion FCFA Ivorian Innovation Fund to finance startups
E-government program: all administrative services accessible online, reducing corruption and improving efficiency

Tourism:

Currently under-exploited potential: beaches of Bassam, Grand-Lahou, San-Pédro; Taï National Park (primary rainforest) and Comoé National Park; Dan and Senufo mask culture
Target: 2 million tourists per year by 2030 (compared to 400,000 currently)
Investment in local tourism infrastructure, managed by village cooperatives
International promotion of Ivorian culture: music (coupé-décalé, zouglou), gastronomy, arts

2.4.4 Peasant Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Ivory Coast imports a significant portion of its food despite having abundant agricultural land. This is an unacceptable economic and security contradiction.

Food self-sufficiency program: goal of zero imports of rice, maize, cassava by 2030 (Ivory Coast has all the conditions to produce them)
National irrigation network: 500,000 additional hectares irrigated by 2030
Guaranteed minimum prices for food producers to ensure their income and security
Strengthened agricultural cooperatives: access to credit, improved seeds, and equipment at preferential rates
Combating land speculation: comprehensive national land registry, protection of peasant land against abusive acquisitions

2.5 Financial Program

2.5.1 Tax Reform for Justice

The current Ivorian tax system is regressive: it weighs proportionally more on small taxpayers than on large companies, which benefit from massive exemptions.

A truly progressive income tax: the highest income brackets must be taxed significantly more, with the elimination of loopholes for very high incomes.
Taxing multinationals at their true value: ending the practice of abusive transfer pricing that allows multinationals to declare artificially low profits in Ivory Coast
A tax on productive wealth (above a high threshold) to redistribute to public services
VAT reform: zero VAT on basic food products, water, essential medicines and school textbooks
Special tax on raw exported natural resources: a tax incentive for local processing

Expected result: a 30-40% increase in tax revenues over 5 years, allowing massive investment in public services without additional debt.

2.5.2 Public Debt Management

Ivory Coast's public debt represents approximately 55-60% of GDP in 2024. Debt servicing is absorbing a growing share of the budget.

A comprehensive and public audit of the debt: identification of all debts incurred, under what conditions, and for which projects.
Renegotiation of debts contracted at excessive rates or for unrealized projects
Absolute priority to domestic financing: development of the local bond market to reduce dependence on foreign markets
Constitutional prohibition against incurring debt to finance current expenditures: debt is only permitted for productive investments.
Monthly publication of the state of the debt and its use

2.5.3 People's Development Bank

DDS proposes the creation of an Ivorian People's Development Bank (BDPI), a public financial institution whose capital is held by the State and citizen cooperatives:

Mission: to finance SMEs, agricultural cooperatives and community projects at affordable rates (maximum 5%)
Network of 50 regional branches and 500 local credit officers in rural areas
Microfinance program for women entrepreneurs: 500,000 loans ranging from 100,000 to 5 million FCFA over 5 years
Preferential funding for SSD projects validated by local micro-groups

2.5.4 GUMI-SV Program: Universal Basic Income and Structured Volunteering

DDS proposes for Côte d'Ivoire the progressive implementation of the GUMI-SV program (Universal Minimum Inclusive Guarantee - Voluntary Service), adapted to local economic realities:

Phase 1 - Minimum Guarantee of Existence (GME):

A monthly allowance of 50,000 FCFA (approximately 75 euros) for each adult living in extreme poverty (verified by the DDS system)
Funding: renationalized extractive revenues + tax reform + redirected international aid
Initial coverage: 3 million people (priority given to female heads of household, long-term unemployed, and people with disabilities)

Phase 2 - Structured Voluntary Service (SVS):

Any citizen can perform recognized community services (teaching, healthcare, infrastructure maintenance, assistance to the elderly) and receive additional compensation
These services are validated and managed by local micro-groups
Objective: to create 500,000 paid voluntary service positions by 2030

2.6 Social Program

2.6.1 Education Revolution

Education is the most profitable long-term investment. DDS proposes a 10-year national education plan:

Short term (1-3 years):

Recruitment and training of 30,000 new qualified teachers, with competitive salary conditions
Construction and renovation of 5,000 classrooms in under-equipped areas
Free distribution of textbooks and basic equipment in all public schools
School feeding program: one hot meal per day in all public primary schools
Compulsory schooling effective until age 16, with monitoring and support mechanisms

Medium term (3-8 years):

Curriculum reform to integrate local knowledge, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking
Teaching Ivorian national languages alongside French: preserving cultural heritage
Reformed vocational training: 50,000 places/year in programs corresponding to the real needs of the market
Local universities: creation of 5 new regional universities to relieve congestion in Abidjan
DDS Excellence Scholarships: 10,000 scholarships/year for deserving students from modest families

Long term (8-15 years):

The goal is universal literacy by 2035.
Partnerships with the world's best universities for exchange and training programs
Education budget: 25% of the national budget (compared to 16% currently)

2.6.2 Universal Health System

DDS proposes the creation of an Ivorian Universal Health System (UHS), financed by reformed tax revenues and income from natural resources:

Infrastructure:

Construction of 200 community health centers in underserved rural areas
Complete renovation of all existing regional hospitals
Creation of 5 university hospitals of reference (one per major region)
Cold chain and supply of essential medicines guaranteed throughout the country

Human Resources:

Training of 15,000 additional doctors, 50,000 nurses and 10,000 additional midwives over 10 years
Civil medical service: every doctor trained in an Ivorian public university is required to complete 3 years of service in a rural area
Competitive salaries to retain healthcare professionals and reduce brain drain

Access and funding:

Free primary consultations at all public health centers
Essential medicines are free for children under 15 and people over 60.
Progressive universal health insurance: total coverage by 2030
Maternal health program: objective of an 80% reduction in maternal mortality by 2035

2.6.3 Drinking Water and Sanitation: Fundamental Right

Access to clean water is a fundamental human right. DDS refuses to allow a private company to profit from the sale of a vital resource.

Renationalization of water management (currently entrusted to private operators under concession) with transformation into a high-quality public service
Water for All Program: Access to drinking water for 100% of the population by 2030 — estimated investment of 1,500 billion FCFA over 10 years
Sanitation: Construction of sewer systems in all cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants by 2032
Free drinking water for low-income households (basic quota: 50 liters/day/person), charged and progressively more expensive beyond that
Community management of rural water sources by local DDS micro-groups

2.6.4 Decent Housing

Social housing program: construction of 100,000 decent and affordable homes over 5 years in major cities
Slum clearance: a program for the gradual transformation of informal settlements with resident involvement in the design
Rent control in high-demand areas (particularly Abidjan) to protect low-income tenants
Assistance with homeownership for first-time buyers via the BDPI (zero-interest loans for low-income households)

2.6.5 Protection of Women and Gender Equality

Ivorian women bear a disproportionate share of agricultural and family work while being underrepresented in decision-making spheres. DDS guarantees:

Mandatory gender parity in all DDS bodies (50% women at all levels)
Anti-discrimination law in hiring strengthened and effectively enforced
Effective criminalization of gender-based violence: specialized courts, protection of victims
Support program for women business leaders: priority access to BDPI financing
Fair parental leave: 16 weeks of fully paid maternity leave + 4 weeks of mandatory paternity leave

2.6.6 Youth Protection and the Fight Against Youth Unemployment

Youth Guarantee: every unemployed young person aged 18 to 30 is offered a job, training, or paid voluntary service opportunity within 4 months
Sport and Culture Programme: investment in sports and cultural infrastructure in all municipalities
Combating child labor on cocoa plantations: strengthened controls, economic alternatives for families
Young Talent Support Program: scholarships, accelerators, international networking for entrepreneurs, artists and athletes

2.7 Environment and Sustainable Development

2.7.1 The Forest Crisis: A National Emergency

Ivory Coast has lost 90% of its original forest cover. This is one of the fastest rates of deforestation in the world. The consequences are already measurable: local climate disruption, soil erosion, reduced rainfall in key agricultural areas, and the disappearance of endemic species.

Immediate moratorium on all new clearing of primary forest
National reforestation program: 2 million hectares replanted by 2035, combining native forest trees and agroforestry crops
Transformation of cocoa farming towards agroforestry: cocoa grown under shade, combined with fruit and forest trees.
Massive reinforcement of Taï National Park and Comoé National Park: better equipped and better paid forest rangers
Payments for environmental services: farmers who preserve the forest receive direct financial compensation

2.7.2 Clean Energy and Energy Independence

Ivory Coast has enormous potential in renewable energy: abundant sunshine all year round, water resources (existing dams), and agricultural biomass. This potential is currently under-exploited.

Objective: 70% renewable energy in the electricity mix by 2035 (compared to approximately 60% currently, the majority of which is hydroelectric)
Rural solar program: installation of solar panels in all communities of fewer than 5,000 inhabitants not connected to the national grid
Reducing dependence on petroleum product imports: developing biofuels based on agricultural residues
Social electricity tariffs: the first 100 kWh/month are free for low-income households.
Energy efficiency in public buildings: renovation and LED equipment program in all government offices

2.8 Regional and International Policy

2.8.1 Relations with France: Towards a New Equity

The Franco-Ivorian relationship has historically been unbalanced. This does not mean that France is the enemy of Ivory Coast — but that the framework of the relationship must be fundamentally rebuilt on foundations of equality and mutual respect.

Renegotiation of economic cooperation agreements: contracts with French companies must meet the same criteria of transparency and national benefit as any other contract
Review of the status of French military bases: their presence must be decided by the Ivorian people, not by opaque agreements between governments
Development of diversified partnerships: Europe, China, India, Türkiye, Brazil, but especially Africa
Active policy of diversifying economic partners to reduce dependence on a single country

2.8.2 African Integration

Priority to regional integration ECOWAS: free movement of people and goods within a framework of reciprocity and mutual benefit
Strategic alliance with Ghana for a common cocoa policy, reducing destructive competition between the world's two leading producers
Enhanced security cooperation with neighboring Sahelian countries to manage migration flows and security threats without excessive militarization
Active contribution to the African Union for a fairer trading system with global powers

2.8.3 Migration and Foreign Communities

Ivory Coast has a foreign population estimated at 20-25% of its total population, contributing essentially to the agricultural and commercial economy.

Regularization of all long-term residents (more than 5 years) in an irregular situation
Right to vote in local elections for foreign residents over 5 years
Effective protection against discrimination and xenophobia
Neighborhood policy: facilitating regional movement for seasonal agricultural workers

2.9 Implementation of DDS in Côte d'Ivoire: Concrete Timetable

2.9.1 Start-up Phase (Months 1-12)

DDS does not seize power — DDS gives power to the people. Implementation begins with building the democratic structure:

Launch of the recruitment and training program for microgroup members in the 31 regions
Year 1 objective: 10,000 active micro-groups in Ivory Coast, covering approximately 80,000 to 110,000 directly engaged citizens
Deployment of the ddsAI platform in French and the main Ivorian languages (Dioula, Baoulé, Bété)
Training of 500 regional DDS coordinators
Partnerships with already active Ivorian civil society organizations
Awareness program: community radio, market campaigns, village meetings

2.9.2 Growth Phase (Years 1-3)

50,000 active micro-groups in Ivory Coast, potentially covering 400,000 to 500,000 citizens
DDS presence in 95% of Ivorian municipalities
First community referendums on concrete local projects
Internal DDS elections to establish the DDS National Council of Ivory Coast
Concrete legislative proposals put forward by DDS to the national Parliament via the right of popular initiative
First campaigns for budget transparency: citizen audits of municipal budgets

2.9.3 Impact Phase (Years 3-10)

DDS is recognized as a major political force in Ivory Coast
Members of micro-groups participate in municipal and regional councils
The DDS economic program is beginning to be implemented in regions where DDS is the majority.
The first concrete changes are visible and measurable: jobs created, services improved, corruption reduced
Popular sovereignty over natural resources is beginning to be effective in the DDS regions

2.9.4 In Difficult Governance Contexts

Ivory Coast has experienced periods of authoritarianism. While DDS operates in a context where political freedoms are restricted, our approach remains peaceful, legal, and intelligent.

Microgroups primarily function as community development organizations — which is legal everywhere
The ddsAI platform enables secure communications even in the event of surveillance
The transparency of our actions protects us: everything DDS does is documented and shared with the international community
We never call for violence: we give citizens the tools to exercise their power legally
The proliferation of micro-groups creates a critical mass that makes suppression politically costly for any regime.

PART III: ANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCES AND BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMME

3.1 Expected Economic Benefits

Indicator	Situation in 2025	Target 2035 DDS
% locally processed cocoa	25-30%	70-80%
Cocoa value captured in Ivory Coast	8-12%	55-65%
Extreme poverty rate	39%	<15%
Youth unemployment rate	60% (rural)	<25%
Access to drinking water	73%	100%
Literacy rate	47%	85%
Maternal mortality	617/100,000	<150/100,000
Electric blanket	70%	100%
Forest cover	9% (primary forest)	15% (reforestation)

3.2 Expected Political and Social Benefits

A true democracy where every Ivorian has a voice that counts, between elections and not just every 5 years
A sincere national reconciliation, rooted in justice and reparation, not in forced forgetting
Social cohesion is strengthened through collective participation in a common project.
A youth with real prospects, reducing the temptation of emigration or extremism
Corruption is structurally reduced through transparency and ongoing citizen oversight.
A strengthened national identity based on inclusive and non-exclusive principles

3.3 Benefits for Future Generations

The current generation has a moral duty to leave its children a better country than it received. The DDS program is designed to be sustainable and to create permanent mechanisms—not election promises.

The Ivorian Sovereign Wealth Fund, managed by the people, will constitute a reserve for future generations
Economic diversification protects Ivorian children against shocks in cocoa or oil prices
Forest restoration leaves a viable environment
Enhanced education provides the tools to adapt to a changing world
Strengthened democratic institutions protect against the return of authoritarianism

CONCLUSION: A MESSAGE TO THE IVORIAN PEOPLE

This program does not belong to DirectDemocracyS. It belongs to you, the Ivorian people in all your diversity. We are not asking you to trust us blindly—we are asking you to evaluate our ideas with your own intelligence, your own experience, your own common sense.

Ivory Coast is an extraordinarily rich country. It supplies chocolate to a large part of the world. It possesses natural resources, fertile land, and a hardworking and creative population. Yet, millions of Ivorians live in poverty. Why? Because the current structures—political, economic, and financial—are designed so that wealth goes elsewhere.

DirectDemocracyS proposes to change this. Not through violence—never. Not through chaotic revolution—that has already cost too much blood. But through something more powerful and lasting: the intelligent, peaceful, and determined organization of the people themselves.

When 26 million Ivorians are organized into micro-groups, informed by independent technologies, connected in a real democratic structure, and determined to exercise their sovereignty — no political elite, no multinational, no foreign power can ignore them.

This is DirectDemocracyS's promise to Ivory Coast: to give you the tools to exercise the power that rightfully belongs to you.