Laurent Gbagbo (born 1945) is a former President of Côte d’Ivoire (2000–2011) and the founder of the Parti des Peuples Africains – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI). Historically significant as the first former head of state to be tried—and subsequently acquitted—by the International Criminal Court (ICC), he remains the most charismatic and polarizing figure in Ivorian politics. As of January 11, 2026, he is navigating a new political reality after being legally barred from the late 2025 presidential election.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Laurent Koudou Gbagbo |
| Born | May 31, 1945, Gagnoa, Côte d’Ivoire (Age 80) |
| Rule | October 26, 2000 – April 11, 2011 |
| Current Party | PPA-CI (African People’s Party – Côte d’Ivoire) |
| Legal Status | Acquitted by the ICC (2021); Barred from 2025 Elections. |
| Current Status | Chief of the Opposition; Ally of Tidjane Thiam. |
2025–2026: The “Common Front” of the Excluded
The last year has seen Gbagbo transition from a presidential hopeful to a strategic kingmaker and leader of the “disenfranchised.”
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The Disqualification (Sept 2025): Despite a massive mobilization by the PPA-CI, the Constitutional Council of Côte d’Ivoire disqualified Gbagbo from the October 2025 presidential race. The ruling cited his 20-year sentence in the “BCEAO Looting” case—a domestic conviction that remained on his record despite his ICC acquittal and a subsequent presidential pardon (which did not include amnesty).
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The “Front of Resistance”: In response to their mutual exclusion, Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam formed a historic “Common Front” in mid-2025. This alliance between the PPA-CI and the PDCI-RDA was intended to delegitimize President Ouattara’s fourth-term bid. On January 5, 2026, Gbagbo held a high-profile meeting with Thiam in Mama (Gbagbo’s village), where they vowed to continue “civil pressure” to reform the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) ahead of the 2026 legislative sessions.
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Neutrality Policy (Oct 2025): Following his disqualification, Gbagbo famously refused to endorse any of the minor candidates who were allowed to run. He maintained that supporting an “approved” candidate would validate a “flawed and exclusionary” democratic process.
The ICC Legacy and Domestic Justice
Gbagbo’s political identity is inextricably linked to his decade-long legal battle in The Hague:
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The Acquittal (2021): After a trial lasting seven years, the ICC judges acquitted Gbagbo of all crimes against humanity, stating that the prosecution had failed to prove the existence of a “common plan” to attack civilians. This victory remains the bedrock of his “victimhood” narrative, which he uses to maintain a fiercely loyal voter base in the south and west of the country.
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The 20-Year Sentence: In early 2026, the domestic 20-year jail sentence for the alleged robbery of the Central Bank (BCEAO) during the 2011 crisis continues to act as his “political shackle.” While he remains free in Abidjan, the lack of a full amnesty is what prevents his name from returning to the electoral roll.
Family and Personal Transitions
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Simone Gbagbo: The political divorce from his former wife and “Iron Lady,” Simone Gbagbo, became total in 2025. While she was allowed to run in the October election (securing 2.46% of the vote), she and Laurent remained politically estranged.
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Nady Bamba: Gbagbo’s second wife, Nady Bamba, is frequently seen at his side during PPA-CI rallies. In January 2026, she is credited with managing his schedule and acting as a vital link between the party leadership and the “Sage of Mama.”
Historical Outlook
In early 2026, Gbagbo is often described as the “Nelson Mandela of West Africa” by his supporters and a “dangerous populist” by his detractors. At 80, he has signaled that while being president is no longer his “obsession,” he will not allow the current administration to “rewrite the history of the 2011 crisis” without a fight.