The former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, aged nearly 81, has been re-elected as leader of the Parti des peuples africains – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) during the party’s first ordinary congress. Despite earlier indications of stepping down by the end of 2025, Gbagbo’s leadership continues to resonate strongly with his supporters, even as the party faces significant challenges following multiple electoral boycotts.

Gbagbo, who served as President from 2000 to 2011, was barred from running in the October 2025 presidential election due to a criminal conviction, preventing his inclusion on voter rolls. His party, the PPA-CI, neither nominated nor endorsed any candidate for the election. Subsequently, it boycotted the December legislative elections, leaving the party without parliamentary representation and a mere handful of mayors.

Gbagbo’s re-election and party dynamics

On Friday, delegates at the PPA-CI’s first ordinary congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed Gbagbo’s leadership through acclamation. The decision was formalized the following day, with Gbagbo arriving at the Palais des Congrès de Treichville in Abidjan to enthusiastic applause from supporters. In a brief address, he expressed gratitude, stating, “I am delighted to be in this warm atmosphere and thank you all.” A more detailed speech is scheduled for Saturday in Songon, south of Abidjan.

Earlier, in October 2025, Gbagbo had announced his intention to step down from party leadership and “refrain from holding political office.” However, his re-election signals a shift in the party’s direction, despite his age and previous declarations.

During the congress, a motion expressing support for the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a coalition comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, governed by anti-French military juntas with strained relations with Côte d’Ivoire—drew strong applause. The party also took disciplinary action, including expelling Ahoua Don Mello, who ran against the party’s advice in the 2025 presidential election, and suspending Stéphane Kipré for 18 months for participating in legislative elections as an independent candidate.

Fragmentation within Ivorian left-wing politics

The political landscape that Gbagbo once embodied as a left-wing leader during his presidency (2000–2011) has become increasingly fragmented. Prominent figures such as his ex-wife Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, former ally Charles Blé Goudé, and ex-Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan have distanced themselves from the PPA-CI.

The future of Gbagbo’s political career hinges on his reinstatement on the electoral rolls, a process contingent on an amnesty from current President Alassane Ouattara. Ouattara succeeded Gbagbo after a violent post-election crisis in 2011 that pitted their factions against each other.