It was almost two months since Laurent Gbagbo returned to Côte d’Ivoire after 10 years under judicial supervision by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This Monday, August 9 in Abidjan, in front of the entire leading wing of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) which has remained loyal to it, the former president offered to turn the FPI page.
The rift between Laurent Gbagbo and his ex-Prime Minister Affi N’guessan, who for a good 20 years led the Front populaire Ivoirien (FPI) is now abysmal. In front of the entire leading wing of the FPI-GOR (the wing of this party which has remained faithful to it) convened for an “extraordinary central committee” extended to the leadership of “Together for Democracy (EDS)”, the platform of all Allied parties, the former Ivorian president has officially broken ties with Affi N’guessan. “Let’s leave Affi with the envelope he has. We will continue to fight… decentralization, industrialization, freedoms. The REIT is us. We’re going to change our name, that’s all! “, He proposed to the” Extraordinary Central Committee “. This new party is expected to be officially launched next October.
By this exit, Laurent Gbagbo therefore decides not to face his ex-collaborator for the presidency of the FPI. He thus puts an end to a row that has been going on since 2014 between Pascal Affi N’guessan and the other members of the party leadership. This cold war has peaked since the return of the former president to Côte d’Ivoire. The Affi camp has pulled out the clutches with statements signed by Issiaka Sangaré, its secretary general, “that the convening of a central committee by Gbagbo is illegal”.
The secrets of an Affi-Gbagbo closed session in Brussels
Affi N’Guessan, according to his party’s general secretary, has filed a request for a hearing three weeks ago, which his ex-boss has not yet granted. But today, facing his “comrades”, Laurent Gbagbo spoke for the first time about a meeting with Affi in Brussels where he was waiting to be completely cleared by the ICC. Selected songs: “Affi kept the presidency of the FPI because Sangaré did not want him to be heckled (…). I have shown my availability to discuss with him (…). I asked him to come see me directly. The first tête-à-tête lasted over an hour in the presence of my counsel, Me Habiba Touré. Today, I came back from prison, we have to move forward “.
A replica of the Affi camp is expected after this exit of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo. Moreover, the governing bodies of the wing favorable to the former prime minister are busy for a “big meeting” on August 14th.
Simone and Laurent continue the political camaraderie
Several outside observers of the feud within the FPI had bet on a boycott of Simone Gbagbo, second vice-president. Who, as we know, is in marital bickering with Laurent Gbagbo. If the couple decided to separate in the city, on the political ground, they continue, for the moment in any case, to make progress together. The former First Lady was therefore present this Monday, August 9 at the Palace of Culture where she was even entitled to a standing ovation from her party “comrades”.
