IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST – “He told me that if I left power, I would not be prosecuted,” says Laurent Gbagbo

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo spoke on his Facebook page describing precisely the telephone exchanges between him and the American authorities at the time, including an American undersecretary of state. Then Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tried to reach her to convince her to give up power and to go into exile with sixty people from her entourage completely taken in charge. They wanted, according to him, to exhort him to leave the power which, according to him, was the only victor. It is now 2011, the election of the president has just ended. Laurent Gbagbo outgoing president candidate for his own succession claims power. Alassane Ouattara, his opponent also claims the head of Côte d’Ivoire. An arm wrestling ensued between the two warring parties, with the international community and France at the head of this political ring as the referee. On 11 April 2011, Laurent Gbagbo, his wife and some 40 relatives were arrested by forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara. This is the end of what has been called the “Battle of Abidjan”. Laurent Gbagbo will be translated at the ICC with his Youth Minister Charles Blé Goudé.
This Sunday, April 18, 2021, Laurent Gbagbo returned to this political page of Côte d’Ivoire. Above the words published on his page:
“An American undersecretary of state called me and spoke to me for at least an hour. He told me that if I left power, I would not be prosecuted, I could go into exile with sixty-four people from my entourage and that all would be taken in charge. As for me, I would be housed, fed and laundered, I would have a job and income equivalent to $2 million, etc. This conversation or rather this monologue was surreal. There was such a disconnect between what this gentleman was saying and the reality that I lived with the Ivorian people that his speech was indigestible. I finally hung up, tired of hearing him talk about the proposals that were waiting for me if I agreed to leave power. I thought there was something strange about that speech. What was the subject? In my opinion, this was the result of the presidential elections. They all claimed that I had lost the presidential elections but the Constitutional Council of my country said the opposite. I asked to count the votes, they refused. I even proposed an independent international commission of inquiry to examine the facts. They refused. However, the data is simple. If it is proven that I lost the election, I bow without further discussion. If I have won, I am prepared to make political concessions to create a climate of calm and peace throughout the country. But why do they insist on making absurd proposals to me? Why are they trying to bribe me and threaten me if they’re convinced I lost the election?
Shortly after this strange phone call, my advisors told me that Hillary Clinton was trying to reach me on the phone. I refuse to take the communication because I am convinced that I will spend another moment hearing the same proposals. She finally sent me a message to suggest what to do. I didn’t even open the envelope. After Hillary Clinton, President Obama called me directly. Once again, I refused to take the call. I no longer wanted to listen to the boring speeches and the Ubscious proposals they inflicted on my ears. Gbagbo Laurent”
As a reminder, Gbagbo Laurent and his Minister of Youth and the former head of the Young Patriots Charles Blel Goude were acquitted by the International Criminal Court in January 2019. The ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed their acquittal on Wednesday, 31 March 2021, after ten years of trial.
IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST – The PDCI-RDA march postponed to June 14 to support Tidjane Thiam

Initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the major march of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the main opposition party in Côte d’Ivoire, will finally take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This postponement was announced by the party’s Executive Secretary, who points out that the decision came after discussions between the PDCI leadership and the authorities of the Abidjan department. The details of these discussions have not been made public.
This demonstration, highly anticipated by the party’s activists and supporters, aims to support the candidacy of its president, Tidjane Thiam, in the presidential election of 2025, and to protest against his removal from the electoral list. A decision that the party qualifies as unfair and unacceptable, arguing for the right of all Ivorian citizens, including those with dual nationality, to participate in the political life of the country.
The route of the march remains unchanged: the protesters will leave from the SOCOCE space of the 2 Plateaux, in the municipality of Cocody, to head towards the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The party calls for a strong peaceful mobilization in order to convey a clear message: demand inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections.
The removal of Tidjane Thiam and other opposition figures is mainly based on the issue of dual nationality, a legal provision that continues to be debated as the election approaches. The PDCI, which sees in Thiam a rally candidate capable of unifying the Ivorians, intends to make this march a highlight of its campaign and its democratic fight.
Photo credit: Tidiane Thiam page
IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST AFRICA – The PDCI-RDA march postponed to June 14 to support Tidjane Thiam

The list of presidential candidates in Côte d’Ivoire is expanding on Saturday, May 31, 2025. After the withdrawal of Tidjane Thiam, another candidate comes to replace him. The latter had submitted his application in 2020 but it was invalidated. Indeed, in his announcement of candidacy, the latter has emphasized the valorization of cultural and spiritual values of the country.
The presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire promises to be exciting. Some candidates have been withdrawn and others are being added to the list of candidates. Additions for a common purpose sitting in the chair. An objective that arouses the interest of Olivier Djè Bi Djè, who has submitted his candidacy. Thus, the deputy of the city of Zuénoula announced his candidacy for the presidential election of 25 October 2025 on 31 May 2025.
An application that was invalidated five years ago (2020) due to sponsorship non-compliance. However, this candidacy could be valid because the politician has well prepared his mount before launching. However, there is still some way to go. Indeed, to be sure, the member for Zuénoula of Côte d’Ivoire has an obligation to respect the electoral code by bringing together at least sponsorship in 17 independent regions.
Olivier Djè Bi Djè, in his candidacy announcement speech, unveiled his management plan once at the presidency headquarters. As the Ivorian politician is a manager, he opts for common management with a future of social justice, without forgetting peace and sustainable development.
He gave a pledge on leadership based on the identity of the country. It also intends to place cultural and spiritual values high on the agenda with traditional leaders. Finally, the new candidate calls for unity in order to address the country’s challenges as quickly as possible. He also counts on the population for a victory.
Source: africa-sur7 / Credit photo: afrique-sur7
IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST – Dominique Ouattara receives cultural actors and the UNAIDS Country Director

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the high-class district of Cocody in Abidjan, the first lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, granted a series of hearings to two prominent cultural actors: the artist Dadju and Affou Keïta, as well as to Henk Van Renterghem, UNAIDS Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire These meetings were part of courtesy visits, cultural invitations and discussions on health issues related to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire Dominique Ouattara received the artists and the UNAIDS representative in an official, no less convivial setting. She exchanged views with the two on cultural issues and with the other on the progress made by Côte d’Ivoire in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
French-Congolese artist Dadju Djuna Nsungula, better known as Dadju, came to express his gratitude to the First Lady. The Commission congratulated him on his exceptional career and the positive impact he has had on African youth. She then received the Ivorian singer Affou Keïta, who came to personally give her an official invitation to her live concert “Reconnaissance à l’effort de Paix”, scheduled for 30 May 2025 at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan. This concert aims to promote peace and living together.
Henk Van Renterghem, UNAIDS Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire, came to provide an update on the progress of the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country. He shared updated data with the First Lady and discussed the challenges of declining international funding, including from the U.S. PEPFAR program. “We have come to give an update as it is said in English to the First Lady of the progress and important progress that the country has registered in the fight against AIDS with a view to achieving the target of eliminating this pandemic by 2030. I shared important figures on the progress made by Côte d’Ivoire,” said Mr Henk Van Renterghem.
For many years, Dominique Ouattara has been involved in the promotion of culture in Côte d’Ivoire. Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, the First Lady expressed her unwavering support for UNAIDS. She also renewed her commitment to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
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