Gbagbo urges release of Ivorian political prisoners

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has called for the release of political activists imprisoned in the Ivory Coast, speaking at a political and cultural gathering organised by his party.

The event was the 4th edition of the Renaissance Festival in Songon M’Brathé, organised by Gbagbo’s African People’s Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI). The party re-elected the 80-year-old as its president this week. “We have many comrades in prison. We must not only think of them, but we must work to ensure they are released,” Gbagbo said.

Last October, an Ivorian court sentenced dozens of people to prison for participating in banned demonstrations against the exclusion of certain candidates, including Gbagbo, from elections.

“The democracy we have fought for and continue to fight for is precisely so that everyone can express their opinion,” Gbagbo told supporters. “But if, as soon as someone expresses their opinion, you put them in prison, that is no longer normal.”

The PPA-CI party did not participate in the October 2025 polls and currently has no MPs and only a few mayors. Gbagbo’s long-time rival, Alassane Ouattara, won the presidential vote.

Gbagbo came to office in 2000. His refusal to concede defeat to Ouattara in the 2010 election led to a civil war in which more than 3,000 people were killed. He was ousted in 2011 and returned home from exile in 2021 after his 2019 acquittal by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Last year, Gbagbo said he planned to retire from politics. He turns 81 at the end of May.

SOURCE: AN