Laurent Gbagbo was both combative and surprisingly calm during his recent interview with Alain Foka. The former Ivorian president, an emblematic and controversial figure in West African politics, didn't mince his words. Between the fiery denunciation of a vote he refuses to call an "election" and the unexpected announcement of an imminent political retirement, the interview turned into a veritable political testament.

Anger: "This is not an election, it's a civil coup"

The central point of contention in this exchange is the ongoing electoral process. Gbagbo has delivered a frontal and categorical attack on the vote, which he describes as an attempt to seize power.

The former head of state could not be clearer. The elimination of the major candidates (himself and Bédié) turns the vote into a farce.

He states bluntly: "This is not an election we are preparing for, it is an electoral robbery, it is a civil coup."

Faced with what he perceives as an injustice, Gbagbo has given very specific instructions to his many supporters: he calls for abstention, encouraging them to "stay calm at home" because "Gbagbo Laurent is not calling for voting for any of the candidates on the list." He gives unwavering support to those demonstrating against this process, even if he himself does not call for people to take to the streets [00:43:19] .

The Settling of Scores: Sarkozy, Ouattara and the "Barbouses"

The interview served as a platform to settle historical and contemporary scores. Gbagbo set the record straight on major events from his past and made serious accusations about the current situation in the country.

His tone hardens when he talks about his fall. According to him, it was former French President Nicolas Sarkozy who "wanted to vitrify me" and who finally got him by "bombing the presidential residence" to stop him.

The former President revealed the underlying motivation behind his intention to run despite his age: he wasn't looking for a new position, but wanted revenge on history. When he saw Alassane Ouattara running, he said to himself: "Let's do it again to see who really won" in 2010 [00:10:56] .

Finally, he made a serious accusation about the country's security and the treatment of opponents. Gbagbo claimed that arrested youths were taken for interrogation by a "bearded white man" who was not part of the Ivorian security forces. He denounced "subcontracting with foreign beardless men" who "frightens them . "

The Swan Song: Towards a “Writer’s” Life

Beyond the political turmoil, the former leader surprised by evoking a future far from the spotlight and partisan struggles.

The 80-year-old confirmed his desire to step back. He plans to resign as leader of his party, the PPACI, after the legislative elections. "By the time of the congress, I'll be in my 81st year, that's a long time, isn't it?"

What will he do then?

He aspires to a simpler daily life and an intellectual legacy: "I'm going to take my time for myself, for my little family... well, I'm going to live a little, write." -

The interview ended on a note of humility rare in politics: in discussing his age and that of his rival, he lucidly acknowledged that "at 80, you're not really in full health."

Regardless of political leanings, this interview will remain etched as the moment when one of the last dinosaurs of Ivorian politics both launched his final offensive and announced the end of his active career.