Former president of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo launched a new political party on Sunday, the African People’s Party’s Congress (PPA-CI), marking his comeback to the political forefront after a decade-long absence.
Gbagbo was elected president of the PPA-CI on Saturday night by about 1,600 delegates, with the goal to “reunite the left” and using the occasion to campaign for the 2025 presidential election.
”We have created the PPA-CI, our party, it is a structure to prepare my withdrawal. Dear comrades, dear friends, my ambition today is to leave. At this age, the wisdom is to prepare to leave,” said Gbagbo.
This weekend’s congress was attended by political leaders from a dozen African countries.
For his supporters, this marks a fresh beginning for Côte d’Ivoire’s social cohesiveness.
”We acted in his absence, perhaps without knowing it, but practically illegally so that we are imprisoned, beaten, today with his arrival and the creation of the new party it’s a new beginning,” a supporter said.
The 76-year-old, whose leadership from 2000 to 2011 was characterized by turmoil and conflict in the world’s largest cocoa production nation, has been a prominent figure since his return.
He was ousted in April 2011 after a brief civil war that cost 3,000 lives and was triggered by his unwillingness to embrace defeat against current President, Alassane Ouattara.
Gbagbo was subsequently transported to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity committed during the war, but was ultimately acquitted.
