Ivory Coast’s former first lady Simone Gbagbo once convicted and later pardoned has been unexpectedly approved to contest the upcoming presidential election while several prominent figures remain excluded raising questions about fairness and democratic integrity .
Surprise as Ivory Coast’s Ex First Lady Cleared for Presidential Race
Abidjan September 2025 — In a twist that has surprised both supporters and critics Simone Gbagbo the former first lady of Ivory Coast has been cleared to contest the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October Her inclusion on the official list of candidates has sparked debate across the country because of her controversial history and the exclusion of several well known political figures .
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A Remarkable Comeback
Simone Gbagbo now seventy six years old was once a dominant force in the nation’s political life Following the civil conflict of 2011 she was convicted for offenses against the state and sentenced to twenty years in prison She was released in 2018 after receiving amnesty from President Alassane Ouattara ending just three years of her sentence Since then she has carefully rebuilt her political profile On December 30 2024 she was nominated as the presidential candidate of the Movement of Capable Generations Her appearance on the final candidate roster announced in June 2025 confirmed her dramatic return to the political stage .
Others Left Off the Ballot
While Simone Gbagbo has been approved several prominent figures have been left off the ballot Tidjane Thiam the former Credit Suisse chief executive and a rising opposition leader was excluded on the grounds that he held dual Ivorian and French citizenship at the time of his registration even though he renounced his French nationality earlier in the year Laurent Gbagbo Simone’s husband and the former president remains barred from standing continuing the disputes and divisions that followed his ousting in 2010 These exclusions have raised speculation that the political playing field is being carefully shaped ahead of the polls .
Political and Democratic Concerns
The approval of Simone Gbagbo despite her past conviction while other major challengers are disqualified has left many questioning the credibility of the process Critics argue that the rules are being applied unevenly to clear the path for certain candidates while sidelining others Tidjane Thiam has gone as far as calling the decisions against him acts of democratic vandalism saying that the judiciary was being used to weaken genuine competition The situation has attracted growing attention from observers who worry that the outcome may already be leaning heavily in favor of the incumbent .
What Comes Next
The official campaign season is expected to begin on October 10 with just five candidates approved out of an initial list of sixty hopefuls This sharp reduction highlights the high stakes and the narrow field of choices now available to voters As the race moves forward much will depend on whether Simone Gbagbo can mobilize her old base and build new alliances Her return to the spotlight is certain to stir strong emotions both for and against her At the same time the international community will be watching closely to see whether the election reflects genuine democratic competition or a carefully managed contest with limited challengers .