Historic candidacy sparks debate as key rivals barred from October vote
Ivory Coast’s former First Lady Simone Gbagbo has been cleared to stand in next month’s presidential election, in a move that has stunned many observers and reshaped the country’s political landscape.
The 76-year-old will face incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, 83, who has ruled since 2011, when her then-husband Laurent Gbagbo was ousted and arrested after refusing to concede the 2010 election.
But while Simone Gbagbo’s candidacy has been approved, several heavyweight figures have been barred. Former President Laurent Gbagbo, ex-Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan, and ex-Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam were all disqualified by the Constitutional Council. Thiam, citing his past French citizenship, denounced the ruling as “an act of democratic vandalism” and accused the government of engineering a “sham election.”
Ouattara, originally limited to two terms, extended his tenure through a 2016 constitutional change and later ran for a controversial third term in 2020. That election, boycotted by opposition parties, was marred by unrest in which at least 85 people were killed. He is now seeking a fourth term in office.
Simone Gbagbo’s Political Resurrection
Once dubbed “The Iron Lady,” Simone Gbagbo is making a dramatic return to frontline politics. Her approval marks a breakthrough for women in a country where they remain largely excluded from national leadership—only 30% of MPs are female. She and fellow candidate Henriette Lagou Adjoua are the only women in the field of five contenders.
Simone Gbagbo’s career has been as controversial as it is long. A former MP and co-founder of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), she was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2015 for her role in the post-election violence that killed over 3,000 people. She was granted amnesty in 2018 by President Ouattara but remained politically sidelined until recent years. Charges brought against her by the International Criminal Court were eventually dropped in 2021.
Since her split from the FPI and her divorce from Laurent Gbagbo in 2023, she has been steadily rebuilding her political base. Her campaign slogan calls for “a new nation” within “a sovereign, dignified, and prosperous Africa.”
“Her approval legitimises the idea that Ivorian women can aspire to the highest office, regardless of their past, age, or gender. She’s not just a candidate—she’s a symbol,” said political analyst Severin Yao Kouamé.
Uncertain Road Ahead
Whether Laurent Gbagbo will endorse his former wife remains unclear. The pair shared decades of political struggle, imprisonment, and power before their separation.
With campaigning due to begin on 10 October and 8.7 million Ivorians eligible to vote, Simone Gbagbo’s candidacy has already injected unpredictability into an election clouded by the exclusion of other major players. Analysts warn that the disqualifications could undermine trust in the process and risk sparking unrest.
Still, much of the focus now falls on Simone Gbagbo—whether she can rewrite her legacy and become Ivory Coast’s first female president.
