Laurent Gbagbo

Koudou Laurent Gbagbo (Gagnoa Bété:  ; ;Dem born Gbagbo on 31 May 1945. E be Ivorian politician wey serve as di president of Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 till dem arrest am for April 2011. He be di first centre-left president for di country inside. Di man be historian, and dem jail am for early 1970s and again for 1990s because of union wahala. He run go France dey exile for most of di 1980s. For 1982, he form one party wey dem call Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), and he take part for 1990 election wey he no win, as he go contest against Félix Houphouët-Boigny. But still, he win seat for parliament dat same year.

Gbagbo talk say e win di election after di military man Robert Guéï wey dey control di country stop other top politicians from contest for di October 2000 election. But di people no agree, dem vex enter street, chase Guéï commot. Na so Gbagbo take enter power as president..

For di 2010 election inside, Alassane Ouattara take beat Gbagbo. Di people wey dey watch di election, plus di international community, African Union (AU), and ECOWAS all talk say na Ouattara win. But Gbagbo no gree step down, even as pressure from all corner dey come on top am.Fear of violence in Abidjan as Gbagbo refuses to step down, France24 (21 December 2010).Freedom in the World 2013: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties (Freedom House, 2013). Di Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) talk say Ouattara win di election with 54% of di vote, and di UN sef say di results make sense. But di Constitutional Council, wey Gbagbo ein people control, cancel di votes for Ouattara ein strong areas for north, talk say dem do maga, then turn around declare Gbagbo winner with 51% of di vote.Freedom in the World 2013: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties (Freedom House, 2013). For December 2010, Gbagbo and Ouattara both claim say dem be president, and dat one bring some small civil war wey kill like 3,000 people.Laurel Wamsley, International Criminal Court Drops War Crimes Charges Against Ex-Ivory Coast Leader, NPR (15 January 2019).

Dem arrest Gbagbo for 2011 as Ouattara ein people, wey get support from French soldiers, carry force go hold am.David Smith, Laurent Gbagbo appears before international criminal court, The Guardian (5 December 2011). Dem carry Gbagbo go The Hague for November 2011, where International Criminal Court (ICC) charge am with four crimes against humanity because of the wahala wey happen after the electionDavid Smith, Laurent Gbagbo appears before international criminal court, The Guardian (5 December 2011). Gbagbo na the first ex-president wey dem carry enter ICC custody. But for January 2019, di court people talk say the evidence no strong, so dem free Gbagbo plus him former minister Charles Blé Goudé from all the wahala say dem do crimes against humanity. Di prosecutors no gree rest, dem carry the matter go appeal. Because of dat, Gbagbo no fit return go Côte d'Ivoire as dem dey wait make di appeal wahala finish. Last last, di ICC confirm say Gbagbo no guilty. For April 2021, President Ouattara come talk say Gbagbo and Blé Goudé fit come back house anytime dem ready.

 Early life and academic career 
Laurent Gbagbo na Bété man wey dem born on 31 May 1945 for Gagnoa, that time wey di place still be part of French West Africa. E come from Roman Catholic family. E later become history teacher wey no dey agree with di way President Félix Houphouët-Boigny dey rule di country. E start to talk against di government and stand as opposition voice for inside politics. Dem put am for prison from 31 March 1971 reach January 1973. Later for 1979, e go France go collect doctorate degree for Paris Diderot University. By 1980, dem make am Director for di Institute of History, Art, and African Archeology for University of Abidjan. As teacher, e join strike for 1982 under National Trade Union of Research and Higher Education. Na from dia e run go exile for France.Robert J. Mundt, "Côte d'Ivoire: Continuity and Change in a Semi-Democracy", Political Reform in Francophone Africa (1997), ed. 

During di 1982 teachers' strike, Koudou Gbagbo gather people join body wey later turn to di Ivorian Popular Front (FPI). E come back Côte d'Ivoire on 13 September 1988, and for di FPI national congress wey dem do from 19–20 November 1988, dem elect am as di Secretary-General of di party.

For July 2008, Gbagbo yarn say na Blaise Compaoré — wey be former President of Burkina Faso — support am well-well that time wey e still dey underground oppose President Houphouët-Boigny. He talk say without that support, e no sure say him movement for change go fit waka far reach the level e reach."Gbagbo acknowledges receiving underground support from Compaoré against Boigny", African Press Agency, 29 July 2008.

After multiparty politics start for Côte d'Ivoire in 1990, Gbagbo decide say e go challenge President Houphouët-Boigny for the October 1990 election. E talk say Houphouët-Boigny don old—either 85 or even 90 years—and e no sure say him go fit finish another five-year term. But that talk no really enter the minds of the voters. Gbagbo come get only 18.3% of the votes. Still, for the parliamentary election wey happen November that same year, Gbagbo win seat for National Assembly, and eight other members from him party, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), join am.Robert J. Mundt, "Côte d'Ivoire: Continuity and Change in a Semi-Democracy", Political Reform in Francophone Africa (1997), ed.

Gbagbo win parliamentary seat for Ouragahio District wey dey Gagnoa Department, and from 1990 go reach 1995, he serve as the President of the FPI Parliamentary Group. That time, he dey lead the group for National Assembly under the banner of him party, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI)."Qui est Laurent Gbagbo ?" , FPI website . For 1992, dem sentence Gbagbo to two years imprisonment as dem accuse am say he dey incite violence. But e no spend the full time for jail — dem later release am within that same year. For 1995, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) wey Laurent Gbagbo dey lead boycott the presidential election, say dem no trust the process. But for 1996, dem later hold the delayed parliamentary election for Ouragahio, and Gbagbo win back him seat for the National Assembly. That same year, dem also elect am as President of the FPI—making am both the political and parliamentary leader of the party.
For the FPI’s 3rd Ordinary Congress wey happen between 9–11 July 1999, Laurent Gbagbo na the person wey dem choose as presidential candidate for the upcoming October 2000 presidential election. E mean say the party prepare put am forward as their main man to contest for president.That election happun after one coup for December 1999, wey retired General Robert Guéï take power. When time reach for the October 22, 2000 election, Guéï no gree make his predecessor, Henri Konan Bédié, or former PM Alassane Ouattara contest. So Laurent Gbagbo come be the main opposition candidate wey still remain.

After dem do the election, Guéï try claim say na him win, but when e leak say na Gbagbo actually win with clear margin, serious protest burst for street. The heat force Guéï to run comot from the capital, and Gbagbo take office as president on 26 October 2000.

 Civil war 
After the wahala election for 2000, heavy violence break out between FPI supporters (Gbagbo people) and RDR supporters (Ouattara side). For November 2000, dem find one mass grave for Yopougon, Abidjan, wey contain 57 dead bodies, all na RDR supporters wey FPI militias kill. As RDR vex, dem boycott the parliamentary elections wey happun for December 2000. Then for January 2001, attempted coup happen against Gbagbo. As everything scatter, the government begin target northerners and anybody dem suspect say be Ouattara supporter. Plenty people enter jail or lose their lives during the crackdown..

For 19 September 2002, northerners wey vex for Gbagbo government start rebellion. Dem call demself Forces Nouvelles. Dem try capture Abidjan, Bouaké, and Korhogo. But dem fail to take Abidjan because Gbagbo soldiers plus French army support push dem back. But dem succeed for Bouaké and Korhogo, so the country divide into two – north under rebels, south under government. Na from there the civil war wahala really start.. Na the Patriotic Movement of Côte d'Ivoire (MPCI) rebels wey take over northern part of the country.

Dem be part of the Forces Nouvelles rebel group wey rise up against Gbagbo government for 2002, and dem set base for Bouaké and other northern towns. From that time, the country split into two – north under rebel control, and south dey under government hand.

For March 2003, all di political sides for Côte d'Ivoire gree say make dem form one new government wey go bring peace. Dem choose Seydou Diarra — person wey everybody dey okay with — to lead the government. Di new arrangement carry 9 rebel ministers plus other politicians from different parties inside the cabinet. About one year later, UN peacekeeping soldiers land for the country to help maintain peace and make sure say everything go smoothly.Ivory Coast profile – Timeline, BBC news (15 January 2019).In March 2004, however, an anti-Gbagbo rally took place in Abidjan; government soldiers responded by killing some 120 people.Tim J. Watts, "Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)" in Atrocities, Massacres, and War Crimes: An Encyclopedia (ed. Alexander Mikaberidze: Vol. 1: ABC-CLIO, 2013), p. 329. Later on, one UN report come confirm say na di Ivorian government cause the mass killing wey happen. Di report point finger say dem be responsible for wetin happen — show say na government hand dey inside di massacre..

 Post-Civil War 
Di peace agreement scatter for early November 2004 after some elections wey people talk say no be fair, plus di rebels too no gree drop their weapons. For 6th November 2004, during airstrike for Bouaké, nine French soldiers die. Di Ivorian government talk say e be mistake wey dem attack di French soldiers,Sengupta, Somini (7 November 2004) "Ivory Coast Violence Flares; 9 French and 1 U.S. Death" The New York Times French government people talk say di attack no be mistake, e be plan dem plan am. So dem take action by destroying almost all di Ivorian military aeroplanes.Navarro, N. and Gnanih, A-H."UN endorses plan to leave president in office beyond mandate", IRIN, 14 October 2005.

As di deadline for late October 2006 dey come close, e clear say dem no go fit do di election by den. Di opposition plus di rebels no gree make Gbagbo extend ein term again.Joe Bavier, "Ivory Coast Opposition, Rebels Say No to Term Extension for President" , VOA News, 18 August 2006. On 1st November 2006, UN Security Council gree make dem give Gbagbo one more year as president. But make you no forget say some of di rebels still hold dem guns and ready move again. Inside di new agreement, dem boost Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny ein power. Gbagbo come talk di next day say any part of di plan wey e see say e go break constitution, he no go follow am."Partial rejection of UN peace plan", IRIN, 2 November 2006.

Dem sign peace deal between di government and di rebels (wey dem dey call New Forces) on 4 March 2007 for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. After dat, di New Forces leader, Guillaume Soro, turn Prime Minister."Former rebel leader takes over as Ivory Coast's prime minister", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 4 April 2007."New Ivory Coast govt 'a boost for Gbagbo'", AFP (IOL), 12 April 2007. Some people wey dey observe di matter talk say all dem things make Gbagbo strong pass before.

Gbagbo go north for di first time since di war start for one disarmament ceremony dem call 'peace flame' on 30 July 2007. For there, dem burn weapons to show say di fight don end. For di ceremony, Gbagbo talk say di war don finish."Ivory Coast leaders burn weapons", BBC News, 30 July 2007."Côte d'Ivoire: Gbagbo en zone rebelle pour prôner la paix et des élections rapides" , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 30 July 2007 . E come add say make di country hurry go do election wey dem bin plan for early 2008.

On 30 August 2008, Gbagbo was designated the FPI's candidate for the November 2008 presidential election at a party congress; he was the only candidate for the FPI nomination."I Coast President Gbagbo wins party nomination for November poll" , AFP, 30 August 2008. The presidential election was again postponed to 2010.

For 2010, Côte d'Ivoire do dem presidential election. Gbagbo ein term end since 2005, but e delay the election plentee times.Adam Nossiter, After Delays, a Vote for a President in Ivory Coast, New York Times (1 November 2010).

For the first round inside, Gbagbo face 14 people wey want take the seat from am; but the main two challengers be Henri Konan Bédié – wey dem remove for power through coup like 11 years back – and Alassane Ouattara, wey be former prime minister plus IMF big man.

Nobody get pass 50% vote for the first round, so e turn run-off between the top two: Gbagbo wey get 38% and Ouattara wey get 32%.

On 28 November 2010, the second round of the presidential election was held. Four days later the Independent Election Commission (CEI) declared Ouattara the winner with 54.1% of the vote. Gbagbo's party complained of fraud and ordered that votes from nine regions occupied by the ex-rebels "became FN after the Ouagadougou agreement" be annulled, but the claims were disputed by the Ivorian Electoral Commission and international election observers. The Constitutional Council nullified the CEI's declaration based on alleged voting fraud, and excluded votes from nine northern areas.
Category:Living people