The African People's Party – Ivory Coast (PPA-CI) is going through a turbulent period at the opening of its first ordinary congress. Stéphane Kipré , a leading figure and former first vice-president, is on a list of 39 officials officially sanctioned for "indiscipline".

A controversial exclusion for "indiscipline"

The sanction, which also affects figures like Ahoua Don Mello and Prince Arthur Dally , stems from their participation in the 2025 presidential and legislative elections, thus defying the party's boycott order. As a result, they have been removed from their positions and barred from attending the congress that begins this Thursday.

Stéphane Kipré was quick to react, calling the decision "incomprehensible." According to him, such an exclusion directly contradicts the party's statutes, which he considers perfectly clear regarding the procedures for participating in the governing bodies.

Between loyalty to Gbagbo and a desire for reform

Despite this power struggle, the former MP has not broken ties with his mentor. He reiterated his absolute loyalty to Laurent Gbagbo , describing him as the central pillar of the Ivorian left.

However, Kipré is using this platform to argue for a profound transformation of the political system:

1. Structural modernization: He supports the idea of maintaining Laurent Gbagbo as moral authority while delegating operational management to an elected executive president.
2. Back to basics: He calls on the party to "return to the grassroots" and adapt its discourse to the concrete concerns of Ivorians.
3. Political pragmatism: Recognizing the failure of the strategy against Alassane Ouattara's fourth term, he invites the future leadership to prioritize the path of dialogue.

"It is time to overcome internal divisions to rebuild a credible political alternative." — Stéphane Kipré

Towards a new direction?

For Stéphane Kipré, the priority issue of this reorganization must be the release of the activists still detained following the electoral tensions of 2025. By presenting himself as a "loyal activist despite the sanction", he puts pressure on the delegates to commit the PPA-CI to the path of a pragmatic refounding .