Freshly re-elected as president of the African People's Party-Ivory Coast (PPA-CI), Laurent Gbagbo surprised his supporters by announcing that he would soon delegate the party's day-to-day management. This declaration, made Saturday in Songon M'Bratté (on the outskirts of Abidjan) before thousands of supporters gathered for the 4th edition of the Renaissance Festival, comes amid a particularly tense internal political climate.

A delegation of tasks, not a succession

The former Ivorian president was keen to immediately clarify the scope of his decision in order to put an end to speculation:

"After this congress, I will delegate the president's powers. But be careful, I didn't say I was going to appoint my successor. I will delegate my powers so that whoever is chosen can sit behind the wheel and run all of Laurent Gbagbo's errands."

This announcement follows the first ordinary congress of the PPA-CI (May 14-15 in Abidjan), where Laurent Gbagbo was re-elected unopposed. As a reminder, the former head of state had initially expressed his desire to step down last October, before yielding to pressure from his supporters and reaffirming, on May 7, his commitment to continuing the political struggle.

Internal purge: the PPA-CI sanctions its dissidents

Behind the smiles of re-election, the party is going through a deep crisis. The congress was an opportunity to severely punish officials who had violated the official party line, particularly those who participated in the December 2025 parliamentary elections despite the boycott order.

The disciplinary record is heavy for several leading figures:

1. Suspensions of 12 to 18 months: Stéphane Kipré, Arthur Dally and Blaise Lasme.
2. Permanent exclusions: Ahoua Don Mello (former Director General of BNETD), Antoine Kanga and Fernand Ahilé for insubordination.

The case of Ahoua Don Mello was particularly sensitive, as he had put himself forward as a candidate for the October 2025 presidential election while the PPA-CI maintained the exclusive candidacy of Laurent Gbagbo.

An Ivorian left in tatters and a suspended future

This internal crisis illustrates the fragmentation of the Ivorian left, once united behind Laurent Gbagbo during his presidency (2000-2011). Today, historical allies like Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, Charles Blé Goudé, and Pascal Affi N'Guessan are forging their own paths, far from the PPA-CI.

Beyond party squabbles, Laurent Gbagbo's political future remains uncertain. Still ineligible, his official return to the electoral arena depends entirely on a presidential amnesty granted by his successor and rival, Alassane Ouattara.