Laurent Gbagbo Reappointed as PPA-CI Leader Despite Earlier Retirement Plans
Last update: May 15, 2026
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Ivory Coast’s former president Laurent Gbagbo is back at the helm of his political party, despite previously hinting at stepping away from politics.
The move comes as questions continue over his political future and eligibility to contest elections.
Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo has been reappointed as leader of the PPA-CI party, despite saying last year that he planned to retire from politics, cbinews.tv reports.
Gbagbo, who will soon turn 81, was confirmed again as party leader during the party’s congress in Abidjan on Friday.
His political future remains uncertain after he was barred from contesting the October presidential election due to a criminal conviction.
The opposition party also boycotted December’s legislative elections, leaving it without MPs and with only a few mayors across the country.
Interestingly, Gbagbo had announced in October that he no longer wanted to lead the party or hold political office.
However, Friday’s decision signals that the veteran politician still holds major influence within the opposition movement.
His return to frontline politics may now depend on whether he is allowed back onto the electoral register, a decision many believe could rest with President Alassane Ouattara, his longtime rival who took over power after the deadly 2011 post-election crisis in Ivory Coast.
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