Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo reconfirmed as leader of his party at nearly 81

Former Ivorian president (2000–2011) and current opposition figure Laurent Gbagbo has been reconfirmed as head of his political party on Friday, despite previously signalling in late 2025 that he intended to step down. Now approaching his 81st birthday, Gbagbo was officially retained as president of the African Peoples’ Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) at the end of the party’s first ordinary congress, held in Abidjan. His reappointment came after approval by acclamation from several thousand delegates the day before.

Limited political influence after electoral setbacks

Gbagbo was unable to contest the October 2025 presidential election, which was won by his long-time rival Alassane Ouattara, due to a criminal conviction that prevents him from being registered on the electoral roll.

His party, the PPA-CI, did not field or endorse any candidate in that election. It subsequently boycotted the legislative elections held in December and now has no parliamentary representation, with only a handful of mayors remaining in office.

On Friday, Gbagbo arrived at the congress venue at the Treichville Convention Centre in Abidjan to warm applause from supporters. Smiling, he briefly addressed delegates, saying: “I am happy to be in this warm atmosphere, thank you.”

He is expected to deliver a longer speech on Saturday in Songon, in southern Côte d’Ivoire.

Internal tensions and political realignments

In October 2025, Gbagbo had stated that he no longer wished to run for party leadership or “hold political office,” making his reconfirmation a notable reversal or continuation of internal party consensus.

During the congress, delegates also passed a motion supporting the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a confederation made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all governed by military juntas with strained relations with Abidjan.

The congress also confirmed disciplinary measures against several party figures accused of dissent. Ahoua Don Mello was expelled after running independently in the 2025 presidential election against party instructions, while Stéphane Kipré was suspended for 18 months after participating in legislative elections as an independent candidate.

Fragmented opposition landscape

The political movement once known as the “Ivorian left,” closely associated with Gbagbo’s presidency from 2000 to 2011, remains deeply fragmented. Several key figures from that era have since broken away from the PPA-CI, including Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, Gbagbo’s former wife, former close ally Charles Blé Goudé, and former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan.

Gbagbo’s future political role will largely depend on his potential reinstatement on the electoral roll, which itself hinges on a presidential amnesty from Alassane Ouattara. Ouattara took power in 2011 following a violent post-election crisis that pitted the two men’s camps against each other.