Mounting frustration over electoral exclusion and political marginalization has prompted former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to escalate opposition efforts just six months ahead of the 2025 presidential vote.
Addressing party members at a central committee meeting in Abidjan over the weekend, Gbagbo announced the launch of a new protest initiative, Trop, c’est trop (“Enough is Enough”), aimed at channelling public discontent into sustained political pressure.
The move signals a strategic shift by the African Peoples’ Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) towards broader civic mobilization, as the party distances itself from what it describes as an imbalanced electoral process.
While not on the ballot himself due to a prior conviction, Gbagbo has framed the 2025 race as a test of democratic legitimacy, accusing authorities of engineering an election that excludes key opposition voices. His new campaign is expected to target issues far beyond electoral reform, with a strong emphasis on economic grievances and social inequality. “This isn’t just about politics—it’s about the everyday struggle of Ivorians,” Gbagbo told party delegates, signalling a bid to unite opposition forces and disillusioned citizens under a common banner of protest.
The PPA-CI’s withdrawal from the electoral commission earlier this year and its ongoing call for a revised electoral framework reflect growing distrust in state institutions. As discontent simmers over the barring of multiple high-profile candidates, the opposition appears to be coalescing around a broader message of inclusion and accountability. With the final voter list set to be published in June, tensions are expected to rise further unless concrete reforms are introduced—highlighting the precarious state of Côte d’Ivoire’s democratic process as the election draws closer.