In his New Year's address, former Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro delivered a firm and uncompromising message. From exile, he painted a bleak picture of the year 2025 and called on the opposition to unite to build a credible political alternative in 2026.

Guillaume Soro believes that Ivory Coast is going through a period marked by deep political, social, and moral divisions. He accuses the current government of governing through exclusion rather than reconciliation, thereby exacerbating the divisions within society.

The former president of the National Assembly spoke at length about the 2025 elections. He judged the presidential election in October and the legislative elections in December to have been organized without consensus or fairness. This situation, he asserted, ultimately shattered trust between citizens and the state.

Citing high abstention rates and post-election violence, Guillaume Soro argues that elections have become a source of lasting instability for the country. He also denounced the repression targeting political opponents.

In his message, the former head of government expressed his solidarity with political prisoners, exiles, and victims of violence. "Nothing justifies the imprisonment of opponents to silence them," he insisted.

Despite the high cost of living and youth unemployment, Guillaume Soro says he is confident in the country's future. He calls for 2026 to be a true political turning point.

Addressing opposition leaders directly, he urged them to overcome internal squabbles and personal ambitions. According to him, only a united opposition, working together on a clear and structured plan, could offer Ivorians a genuine democratic alternative.

He finally encouraged activists from Generations and Peoples in Solidarity (GPS), his movement dissolved by the courts, to remain mobilized. He also called on Ivorian youth to defend their future and praised the courage of women, whom he considers essential agents of change.

Guillaume Soro concluded by stating that no regime founded on injustice can sustainably resist a united people, calling for a 2026 marked by courage and dignity.