Côte d’Ivoire: Laurent Gbagbo on the campaign trail, pledges victory despite ineligibility
A big meeting in Dabou, in the run-up to the presidential election
Six months ahead of the next presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo gathered thousands of supporters this Saturday April 12 in Dabou, some 50 kilometers from Abidjan. The former head of state, who is still struck off the electoral roll, marked a political turning point by reaffirming his determination to carry his party, the PPA-CI, through to the 2025 elections.
Withdrawal from the Independent Electoral Commission
The PPA-CI considers the IEC to be biased
Laurent Gbagbo spoke at length about the strategic decision of the African Peoples’ Party-Côte d’Ivoire to withdraw from the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), which he accuses of being subservient to the ruling power. This withdrawal is seen by its militants as an act of protest against what they consider to be a lack of attentiveness and institutional neutrality.
A withdrawal welcomed by the militant base
Wearing a t-shirt bearing the image of Gbagbo, Ange-Mikaëlle, an activist from afar, describes the gesture as “fed up” with repeated electoral injustices. “We talk, we denounce, but nothing changes,” she says. For her, as for others, this withdrawal is only the first step in a power struggle to come.
Call for Gbagbo to be reinstated on the electoral roll
Ineligibility still contested
Removed from the electoral roll since 2020 following a judicial conviction, Laurent Gbagbo remains ineligible to this day. But his supporters are not giving up. Many of them are calling on President Alassane Ouattara to intervene and allow his reinstatement in the electoral process, invoking national reconciliation and respect for the will of the people.
Towards a coordinated opposition? Support from the PDCI
A convergence of actions with other parties
During his speech, Gbagbo welcomed the similar withdrawal of the PDCI, the main opposition party, also critical of the IEC. “I’m happy that the PDCI has followed us”, he said, suggesting that an alliance between the two parties could be formed to form a bloc against the ruling RHDP.
Conclusion
Laurent Gbagbo, although officially out of the electoral game, intends to remain at the heart of the political battle in Côte d’Ivoire. By mobilizing his supporters in Dabou and denouncing the partiality of electoral institutions, he is paving the way for a more combative opposition. His message was clear: the PPA-CI would go all the way, even without him as the official candidate. The campaign is taking on the appearance of an institutional tug-of-war, between popular protest and the fight for access to elections deemed credible. In a country where presidential elections have often been moments of intense political tension, the outcome could be played out both on the streets and in the legal arena.
