Laurent Gbagbo, former President of Côte d’Ivoire, has been re-elected as leader of the Parti des peuples africains – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) during the party’s first ordinary congress. Despite earlier hints of stepping down by late 2025, his leadership continues to resonate strongly with supporters, even as the party faces significant challenges following multiple electoral boycotts.
Congress confirms Gbagbo’s leadership amid political shifts
On Friday, delegates at the PPA-CI’s first ordinary congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed Laurent Gbagbo’s leadership, a decision met with thunderous applause from the thousands of attendees. The former head of state, now 81, had previously expressed intentions to step away from political roles by late 2025, but his party’s base remains steadfast in its support.
Gbagbo, barred from running in the October 2025 presidential election due to legal restrictions, saw his party abstain from endorsing any candidate. This decision led to a broader boycott of the December legislative elections, leaving the PPA-CI without parliamentary representation and a reduced presence at the local level.
Party unity and internal challenges
During the congress, delegates also approved a motion of support for the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), a coalition of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, whose military-led governments maintain strained relations with Abidjan. Additionally, disciplinary measures were taken against party members accused of disobedience, including the expulsion of Ahoua Don Mello, who ran independently in the 2025 presidential race against the party’s guidance, and a 18-month suspension for Stéphane Kipré, who participated in the legislative elections as an independent and secured a seat.
The once-unified left-wing movement represented by Gbagbo during his presidency (2000–2011) has since fractured, with key figures such as his ex-wife Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, former ally Charles Blé Goudé, and former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan distancing themselves from the PPA-CI.
Future political prospects hinge on legal reinstatement
Gbagbo’s political future remains closely tied to his potential reinstatement on the electoral rolls, a process currently blocked by his 2018 conviction. A path to restoration would require presidential amnesty, a decision that rests with his successor, Alassane Ouattara, whom he faced in a contentious post-election conflict in 2010–2011.
