In Treichville, Laurent Gbagbo's PPA-CI woos Ivorian youth

Former President Laurent Gbagbo at the podium of his new party, the PPA-CI, on October 17, 2022. AFP - ISSOUF SANOGO

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

In Côte d'Ivoire, the Renaissance festival ended last night. This celebration, initiated by the opposition party PPA-CI, celebrates the final acquittal by the ICC of Laurent Gbagbo two years ago. For the former Ivorian president, it was above all an opportunity to meet his activists, especially young people.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Abidjan, Bineta Diagne

Saturday was organized a meeting at the Palace of Culture of Treichville. Laurent Gbagbo's party is trying to woo young people with promises for this year's local elections.

Wilfried N'Gbakre is an entrepreneur. He recently registered to vote and is expected to vote for the first time this year. Until then, the 28-year-old had not been interested in politics. But the figure of Laurent Gbagbo seduces him. So Wilfried came up with his list of grievances to improve the situation of young people. "Young people need to work. We have to keep them, so they won't go to other countries," he said.

Several young activists of the PPA-CI made the group trip from the interior of the country to listen to their leader.

There are also many sympathizers, who are not members of the party. Like Abrow Obed. "We need a concrete program, we need to feel the youth growing.

On stage, it is Me Habiba Touré, Laurent Gbagbo's personal lawyer and member of the scientific committee, who unveils some proposals of the PPA-CI towards young people. "And it is because you want solutions now that on the occasion of the local elections, it will be an opportunity for the PPA-CI to implement urgent measures, so that the youth could judge and see: is the PPA-CI keeping its promises? Can we trust them for 2025? Each candidate of the PPA-CI will have to integrate young people into the municipal and regional councils.

► Read also: Laurent Gbagbo celebrates his "rebirth" among his family in a big meeting in Abidjan

Realism in the face of young people

The young people are overexcited, despite more than 4 hours of waiting. Laurent Gbagbo finally settles down in his chair: and he insists by specifying that he brought the baoulés chairs from his living room. He says he just lacks his coconut juice. Of what, relax the atmosphere, which he wants friendly.

The debate is moderated by a journalist. Then four young people from the audience grab the microphone to convey their concerns. "I am in Carmel, but I made the trip because this event was so close to my heart. Why should we, the Ivorian youth, trust your leadership at the expense of the leaders of other political parties? " asks a student.

Laurent Gbagbo responds with a touch of realism. "You don't have to trust one politician or another. Politicians are like traders. Everyone sells their merchandise. You come to the market, you watch, you buy what you like.

The former president gives his opinion on electoral violence, Pan-Africanism, decentralization... And he concludes by giving some advice. "You have to fight. What I wish for each and every one of you is to get to the top.

The demands of young people collected by the PPA-CI in recent weeks have been recorded in a "White Paper". And this party promises "urgent measures" to integrate more young people into municipal and regional councils in case of victory in local elections.

Next step for the party: the publication of its list of candidates for municipal and regional elections.

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Read on on the same topics:

• Ivory Coast
• Laurent Gbagbo