Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has criticised the imprisonment of political activists, using his address at the 4th edition of the Renaissance Festival in Songon M’Brathé to call for their release.
The political and cultural event was organised by his party, the African People’s Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), which this week re-elected the 80-year-old as its president.
Addressing supporters, Gbagbo said political detainees should not be ignored and urged efforts toward their release.
“We have many comrades in prison. We must not only think of them, but we must work to ensure they are released,” he said.
The comments come months after an Ivorian court sentenced dozens of people to prison for participating in banned demonstrations against the exclusion of candidates, including Gbagbo, from elections.
Gbagbo emphasised the importance of democratic expression, stating that political freedom is a core principle of the struggle he has long championed.
“The democracy we have fought for and continue to fight for is precisely so that everyone can express their opinion,” he said.
“But if, as soon as someone expresses their opinion, you put them in prison, that is no longer normal,” he added.
The PPA-CI boycotted the October 2025 elections and currently holds no parliamentary seats and only a small number of local government positions, while long-time rival Alassane Ouattara secured victory in the presidential vote.
Gbagbo first came to power in 2000, but his refusal to accept defeat in the 2010 election triggered a civil conflict that left more than 3,000 people dead.
He was removed from office in 2011 and later returned to Ivory Coast in 2021 after being acquitted by the International Criminal Court in 2019 of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Although he previously announced plans to retire from politics, Gbagbo has remained an influential figure in the country’s political landscape.
The latest remarks are expected to further fuel discussions around political inclusion, electoral fairness, and the treatment of opposition activists in Ivory Coast.
