Former Ivory Coast First Lady Simone Gbagbo has announced her candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections. Gbagbo, 76, previously sought to evade arrest but has stated her intent to help “build a new nation.” She is running for president for the first time, having been a pivotal figure alongside her ex-husband, Laurent Gbagbo, during his presidency from 2000 to 2011.
Simone Gbagbo was known for her influential role in the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), the political party she co-founded with her husband. Their political partnership allowed her to be viewed as a significant power player, often depicted in contrasting ways by various media outlets. Despite a criminal conviction in 2018 for undermining state security, she has received an amnesty, allowing her to participate in the upcoming elections.
Throughout her life, Gbagbo has faced numerous challenges, including imprisonment and allegations of human rights abuses related to the civil conflicts in Ivory Coast. After a civil war, she defended her husband’s refusal to concede the 2010 election, which led to significant violence. Although she was arrested alongside him, Gbagbo later distanced herself from the FPI and founded a new political movement, the Movement of Capable Generations (MGC).
Gbagbo has pledged to modernize and improve the economy in her campaign for the presidency. Her candidacy is notable, particularly regarding women’s representation in Ivorian politics—only 30% of parliamentarians are women. If successful, she would be the first female president of Ivory Coast, marking a historical milestone in the country’s political landscape.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62n6k6v7yxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss