Former Cote D’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo vowed on Sunday to continue in politics as he launched a new political party, the African People’s Party of Cote D’Ivoire, also known by its French acronym, PPA-CI.
Gbagbo returned home to Cote D’Ivoire in June after more than a decade abroad, having spent the last two years awaiting prosecutors’ appeal of his acquittal at the International Criminal Court in connection with the West African nation’s 2010-2011 postelection crisis.
Since his arrival, Gbagbo has made public appearances but has limited his comments about politics, making Sunday’s comments his most direct yet on his future plans.
“I am out of prison,” he told about 1,600 supporters. “I am here and we will get back on track together.”
“I will be in politics until my death,” he added. “It is I and I alone who will decide in what form it will be done.”
Gbagbo led Cote D’Ivoire from 2000 to 2010, then refused to concede defeat to opponent Alassane Ouattara. The fighting between their supporters brought Ivory Coast back to the brink of civil war, leaving at least 3,000 people dead.
Ouattara ultimately prevailed after Gbagbo was arrested from his underground bunker and extradited to The Hague. Ouattara has been president ever since, stoking controversy last October when he won a third term after previously saying he would only serve two terms.
The two men have been cordial since Gbagbo’s return, even appearing together at the presidential palace in July in an effort to strengthen national unity. However, Gbagbo was disqualified from running in the 2020 election against Ouattara, and it remains unclear to what extent the ruling party will be willing to consider Gbagbo as a future candidate in 2025 when he would be 80.
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