The PPA-CI, led by former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo, has announced that several party officials and activists facing disciplinary action will be barred from participating in its first ordinary congress, scheduled for May 14-15, 2026 in Abidjan.

The decision was disclosed in an official statement released ahead of the highly anticipated gathering, which aims to strengthen the party and reinvigorate its base. The move follows internal disagreements over the party’s decision to abstain from Ivory Coast’s October 2025 presidential election and the December 2025 legislative elections.

Key figures excluded from the congress

The statement named several prominent members—including Don Mello, Stéphane Kipré, Dali Arthur, and Armand Ouégnin—who are now prohibited from attending. Their exclusion comes as disciplinary proceedings against them remain pending, pending the outcomes of internal investigations.

‘Pending the finalization of these disciplinary procedures, the following comrades are barred from participating in the PPA-CI’s first ordinary congress on May 14-15, 2026,’ the statement clarified, emphasizing the party’s commitment to enforcing internal rules.

A congress in a tense political climate

The upcoming event at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan is set to shape the party’s future direction. However, the exclusion of key figures underscores the deep divisions within the PPA-CI, where high-ranking members openly defied the party’s leadership by contesting recent elections in direct opposition to Gbagbo’s stance.

As the Ivorian political landscape continues to evolve, the PPA-CI’s congress will serve as a critical moment to either bridge internal rifts or further fragment the party’s influence.