the rdr, which has most of its support in the north of the country, was formed as a liberal offshoot of the ruling party, the democratic party of côte d'ivoire (pdci), in mid-1994. djéni kobina became the new party's secretary-general. the rdr sought for ouattara, who had served as prime minister from 1990 to 1993, to become its candidate in the 1995 presidential election. however, amendments to the electoral code required presidential candidates to have lived in the country for five years and to have been born of ivorian parents. it was thought that these provisions were specifically intended to keep ouattara out of the running; he had been deputy managing director of the international monetary fund for almost five years and his father's family had roots in burkina faso. for this reason the rdr boycotted the election.