Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has confirmed that his party, the African Peoples’ Party–Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), will participate in the presidential election scheduled for October 2025, despite ongoing disputes over the credibility of the country’s electoral body.
Gbagbo made the announcement during the Renaissance Festival commemorating the founding of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), the opposition party he founded in 1988. Speaking to supporters, he reiterated his lack of confidence in the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), stating that he had instructed the PPA-CI’s representative, Demba Traoré, to withdraw from the commission.
The Renaissance Festival brought together various opposition parties, including the PDCI and the PIT, as well as members of the FPI, now led by Pascal Affi N’Guessan. Gbagbo recalled the origins of the opposition movement, describing the FPI’s clandestine founding congress in Dabou in 1988 as a symbol of resistance.
Although Gbagbo was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his alleged role in the 2010–2011 BCEAO robbery during the post-election crisis, he became eligible for future elections following a ruling in August 2022. However, he remains excluded from the electoral register due to the conviction—an amnesty would be required to formally restore his eligibility.
The announcement of PPA-CI’s participation comes amid rising political tension ahead of the 2025 polls, with Gbagbo’s return likely to reshape the Ivorian opposition landscape once again.
© WAVN