Laurent Gbagbo

Laurent Gbagbo

Laurent Gbagbo (born 31 May 1945) is an Ivorian politician who was the President of Ivory Coast from 2000 to 2011. He is the leader of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), a left-wing political party.

Early life and education

Gbagbo was born in Mama, a village in west-central Ivory Coast, on 31 May 1945. He is the son of Paul Gbagbo, a farmer, and Marguerite Gado, a trader. Gbagbo has four brothers and two sisters.

Gbagbo attended primary school in Mama and then went on to secondary school in Gagnoa. He later studied history at the University of Abidjan, where he graduated in 1969.

Political career

Gbagbo began his political career in the 1970s, when he joined the FPI. He was elected to the National Assembly in 1980 and served as the party's general secretary from 1982 to 1986.

In 1990, Gbagbo was one of the leaders of the pro-democracy movement that forced President Félix Houphouët-Boigny to introduce multi-party democracy. He was elected to the National Assembly again in 1990 and served as the FPI's presidential candidate in the 1995 election.

Gbagbo lost the 1995 election to Henri Konan Bédié, but he remained the FPI's leader and was re-elected to the National Assembly in 2000. In the 2000 presidential election, Gbagbo defeated Bédié and became President of Ivory Coast.

Presidency

Gbagbo's presidency was marked by political instability and conflict. In 2002, a rebellion broke out in the north of the country, and the country was divided into two parts, with Gbagbo controlling the south and the rebels controlling the north. The rebellion ended in 2007, but the country remained divided.

In 2010, Gbagbo was re-elected to a second term in a disputed election. The opposition claimed that the election was rigged, and a civil war broke out. The civil war ended in 2011, with Gbagbo being arrested and forced into exile.

Exile and trial

Gbagbo was held in exile in The Hague, Netherlands, from 2011 to 2021. He was tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.

In 2021, Gbagbo was acquitted of all charges by the ICC. He returned to Ivory Coast in June 2021.

Personal life

Gbagbo is married to Simone Ehivet, who served as the First Lady of Ivory Coast from 2000 to 2011. The couple has four children.