Editing Laurent Gbagbo (section)

==2010 presidential election and post-election violence==
{{main|2010 Ivorian presidential election|2010–2011 Ivorian crisis|Second Ivorian Civil War}}
In 2010, Côte d'Ivoire had a presidential election. Gbagbo, whose mandate had expired in 2005, had delayed the election several times.<ref name="Nossiter">Adam Nossiter, [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/world/africa/01ivorycoast.html After Delays, a Vote for a President in Ivory Coast], ''New York Times'' (1 November 2010).</ref> In the first round, Gbagbo faced 14 challengers; the two main ones were [[Henri Konan Bédié]], who had been deposed in a coup eleven years earlier, and [[Alassane Ouattara]], a former prime minister and [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] official.<ref name="Nossiter"/> In the first round, no candidate secured a majority of more than 50%, triggering a [[Runoff election|runoff]] between the top two vote-getters: Gbagbo (who had received 38% of the vote in the first round) and Ouattara (who received 32% of the vote in the first round).<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-11861346 Ivory Coast awaits Gbagbo-Ouattara run-off result], BBC News (29 November 2010).</ref>

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.<ref name="Kamara">{{Cite news |last=Kamara |first=Ahmed M. |date=3 December 2010 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/3/ivory-coast-election-president-ouattara-wins-third-term |title=Alassane Ouattara has been declared winner of the Ivory Coast presidential election by the French |publisher=Newstime Africa |access-date=11 January 2011 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="UN-urges">{{cite news |date=20 December 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12045387 |title=UN urges recognition of Ouattara as Ivory Coast leader |work=BBC News }}</ref> The Constitutional Council nullified the CEI's declaration based on alleged voting fraud, and excluded votes from nine northern areas.<ref name="Poll-overturned">{{cite news |date=3 December 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11913832 |title=Ivory Coast poll overturned: Gbagbo declared winner |work=BBC News }}</ref>

The Constitutional Council concluded that without these votes Gbagbo won with 51% of the remaining vote.<ref name="UN-urges" /> The constitutional restriction on Presidents serving more than ten years was not addressed. With a significant portion of the country's vote nullified, especially in areas where Ouattara polled well,<ref name="Poll-overturned" /> tensions mounted in the country. Gbagbo ordered the army to close the borders and foreign news organizations were banned from broadcasting from within the country. [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] urged the government to "act responsibly and peacefully."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5il4YdEG-gbGz0__DZ6WsJxGNemMA?docId=CNG.66f68c0742f30ea582dc3640f544f237.b51 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103065329/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5il4YdEG-gbGz0__DZ6WsJxGNemMA?docId=CNG.66f68c0742f30ea582dc3640f544f237.b51 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=US urges Ivory Coast leaders to act responsibly |agency=AFP |date=30 November 2010}}</ref>

Gbagbo declared that "I will continue to work with all the countries of the world, but I will never give up our sovereignty."<ref name="Cocks">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53354620101205|title=Ivory Coast's Gbagbo sworn in, faces rejection abroad|last1=Cocks|first1=Tim|date=5 December 2010|work=Reuters|access-date=17 January 2019|last2=Coulibaly|first2=Loucoumane|language=en}}</ref> On 4 December 2010, one day after military leadership pledged their continuing loyalty to him, Gbagbo again took the oath of office in a ceremony broadcast on state television. Gbagbo's claim to continue in office was not accepted internationally, and rejected by the France, the U.S., the United Nations, the African Union, and the regional bloc [[ECOWAS]],<ref name="Cocks"/> all of which recognized Ouattara as the duly elected president and called for Gbagbo to respect the will of the people.<ref name="Abidjan.net">{{Cite news |url=http://news.abidjan.net/h/383826.html |title=Jean Ping a remis à Gbagbo une lettre lui demandant de partir |date=18 December 2010 |agency=AFP |publisher=Abidjan.net}}</ref>

Gbagbo responded by launching ethnic attacks on northerners living in Abidjan with his army made up partly of Liberian mercenaries,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.abidjan.net/h/383829.html |title=Le camp Gbagbo veut livrer le "combat" contre Ouattara |date=18 December 2010 |agency=AFP |publisher=Abidjan.net}}</ref><ref name="rfi.fr">{{Cite news |url=http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20101217-cote-ivoire |title=Côte d'Ivoire : la pression s'accentue sur Laurent Gbagbo |date=17 December 2010 |publisher=[[Radio France Internationale|RFI]]}}</ref> and rumours (unconfirmed because of restrictions on the movement of peacekeeping forces) of pro-Gbagbo death squads and mass graves have been reported to representatives of the UN.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Dave |last1=Clark |url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-12-23-un-hears-of-cocircte-divoire-atrocities |title=UN hears of Côte d'Ivoire atrocities |agency=AFP |date=23 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=David |last1=Smith |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/22/ivory-coast-death-squads |title=Ivory Coast: death squads on the rise as civil war looms |work=The Guardian |date=22 December 2010 |location=London}}</ref> Gbagbo is mainly supported by the largely Christian south; his opponents are mostly concentrated in the Muslim north.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12081492 | title=Ivory Coast: General strike called to pressure Gbagbo | access-date=26 December 2010 | date=26 December 2010 | publisher=BBC News Africa}}</ref> When Nigeria demanded Gbagbo step down and the EU began imposing sanctions and [[Asset freezing|freezing]] assets,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federal Council orders freezing of any assets held by Laurent Gbagbo in Switzerland |url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-37286.html |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=www.admin.ch}}</ref> Gbagbo demanded that UN peacekeepers and French troops leave the country.<ref name="Abidjan.net"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12028263 |title=Gbagbo orders peacekeepers to leave Ivory Coast |date=18 December 2010 |work=BBC News }}</ref> Leaders of the Forces Nouvelles (former rebels) asserted that Gbagbo was not the head of state and could not make such a request and also asserted that the demand was a part of a plan to commit genocide against northerners, as stated by Gbagbo's Minister of Youth and Employment.<ref name="rfi.fr"/><ref>{{Cite press release |first=Iman Sékou |last=Sylla |url=http://news.abidjan.net/h/383849.html |title=Attaque des mosquées d'Abobo et de Bassam par des hommes en uniforme |publisher=COSIM Conseil supérieur des imams |date=18 December 2010 |postscript=,}} Abidjan.net</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |last=Bamba |first=Affoussy |title=Activités des forces impartiales en Côte d'Ivoire |url=http://news.abidjan.net/h/383847.html |publisher=[[Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire|Forces nouvelles]] |date=18 December 2010}}</ref>

The ensuing post-election violence resulted in the death of 3,000 people, and the [[Internally displaced person|displacement]] of between a half-million to a million other people.<ref name="Batros">Ben Batros, [https://www.justsecurity.org/62295/icc-acquittal-gbagbo-crimes-humanity/ The ICC Acquittal of Gbagbo: What Next for Crimes against Humanity?], ''Just Security'' (18 January 2019).</ref> On 11 April 2011, forces loyal to Ouattara supported by the French and UN forces moved to seize Gbagbo at his residence in Abidjan after failed negotiations to end the presidential succession crisis.<ref name="CNN-20110405">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/06/ivory.coast.unrest/|title=Source: Ouattara forces enter Gbagbo's Ivory Coast stronghold|publisher=CNN|date=5 April 2011|access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref> According to Ouattara, his forces established a security perimeter at the residence, where Gbagbo had sought refuge in a subterranean level, and were waiting for him to run out of food and water.<ref name="Fox-20110408">{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/gbagbos-pal-hell-choose-death-over-humiliation/|title=Gbagbo's pal: He'll choose death over humiliation|publisher=Fox News|agency=Associated Press|date=8 April 2011|access-date=8 April 2011}}</ref> The UN had insisted that he be arrested, judged and tried for crimes against humanity during his term and since the election of Ouattara.

===Arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court===
On 10 April 2011, UN and French helicopters fired rockets at the presidential residence. French special forces assisted forces loyal to Ouattara, the internationally recognized president, in their advance upon the compound. Gbagbo was captured in the bunker below the compound and placed under arrest by the Ouattara forces.<ref name="voa-capture">{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/fresh-clashes-erupt-in-ivory-coast-after-un-french-attacks-119588724/137817.html |title=Ivory Coast's Gbagbo Captured at Presidential Compound|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|date=10 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="wp-arrest">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ivory-coast-strongman-arrested-after-french-forces-intervene/2011/04/11/AFOBaeKD_story.html |title=Ivory Coast strongman arrested after French forces intervene |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=26 March 2011 |access-date=11 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/972702--gbagbo-captured-after-siege-on-bunker |title=Gbagbo captured after siege on bunker |work=Toronto Star  |date= 11 April 2011|access-date=11 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/53cd6854-6440-11e0-b171-00144feab49a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/53cd6854-6440-11e0-b171-00144feab49a |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Gbagbo seized by Ivory Coast opposition|author=Katrina Manson & Peggy Hollinger|work=Financial Times|date=11 April 2011}}</ref> Gbagbo's lawyer stated that the government forces were able to storm the residence after French troops blasted a wall, opening up a "getaway" tunnel that had been dug on the orders of Gbagbo's predecessor, [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny]], and subsequently walled up by Gbagbo.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/embassy-tunnel-led-to-gbagbos-capture-hnd8g7mp6zt|title=Embassy tunnel led to Gbagbo's capture|author=John Follain|date=17 April 2011|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=17 January 2019|language=en|issn=0956-1382}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/cotedivoire/8431320/Ivory-Coast-as-it-happened-April-5.html|title=Ivory Coast: as it happened April 5|last=Chivers|first=Tom|date=5 April 2011|work=The Telegraph|access-date=17 January 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

Gbagbo was held in the Golf Hotel in Abidjan by Ouattara's forces, and requested protection from UN peacekeepers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ozatp-ivorycoast-un-peacekeepers-gbagbo-idAFJOE73A0MX20110411|title=Gbagbo, wife in Ouattara's custody in I.Coast|work=Reuters|date=9 February 2009}}</ref> Speaking from the hotel, Gbagbo told the regular armies to stop fighting.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/11/ivory.coast.crisis/?hpt=T2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412034017/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/11/ivory.coast.crisis/?hpt=T2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2011 |title=Gbagbo tells his supporters to stop fighting |publisher=CNN |date=11 April 2011 |access-date=12 April 2011}}</ref> U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] welcomed news of the developments and [[CNN]] quoted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as saying that Gbagbo's capture "sends a strong signal to dictators and tyrants. ... They may not disregard the voice of their own people".<ref>{{cite news |url = http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/11/ivory.coast.crisis/?hpt=T2 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110412034017/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/11/ivory.coast.crisis/?hpt=T2 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 12 April 2011 |title=Obama, Clinton welcome new developments |publisher=CNN |date=11 April 2011 |access-date=12 April 2011 }}</ref>

In October 2011, the [[International Criminal Court]] opened an investigation into acts of violence committed during the conflict after the election, and ICC chief prosecutor [[Luis Moreno Ocampo]] visited the country.<ref name="GbagdoArrives">{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15946481 |title=Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo arrives in The Hague |work=BBC News|date=30 November 2011}}</ref> The following month, the ICC formally issued an [[arrest warrant]] for Gbagbo, charging him with four counts of crimes against humanity – murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution and other inhuman acts allegedly committed between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011.<ref name="GbagdoArrives"/>

Gbagbo was arrested in [[Korhogo]], where he had been placed under house arrest, and was placed on a flight to [[The Hague]] on 29 November 2011. An adviser to Gbagbo described the arrest as "victors' justice". Conversely, human rights groups hailed Gbagbo's arrest while also stating that pro-Ouattara forces that committed crimes should also be held accountable.<ref name="GbagdoArrives"/>

In 2012, Gbagbo's former budget minister Justin Kone Katinan, a close Gbagbo ally, was arrested on an international warrant in [[Accra]], Ghana, on charges of robbery arising from looting of banks in Ivory Coast. The following year, a Ghanaian magistrate rejected the extradition request, determining that the warrant issued by the Ivorian government was politically motivated.<ref>{{Citation|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ghana-court-katinan/ghana-court-rejects-request-to-extradite-ivorian-fugitive-idUSBRE97T0MP20130830|title= Ghana court rejects request to extradite Ivorian fugitive|year = 2013|publisher=Reuters}}</ref>

===Proceedings in the ICC and acquittal===
The confirmation of charges hearing was scheduled for 18 June 2012, but was postponed to 13 August 2012, to give his defense team more time to prepare. The hearing was then postponed indefinitely, citing concerns over Gbagbo's health.<ref>{{cite web |last=Merrill|first=Austin|title=Ivory Coast: Sympathizers Defend Gbagbo |url = http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/ivory-coast-laurent-gbagbo-alassane-ouattara-civil-war-cocoa |work=Ivory Coast: Cocoa, Justice, and the Road to Reconciliation |publisher=Pulitzer Center/Foreign Policy }}</ref>

Gbagbo's trial at the ICC began on 28 January 2016, where he denied all charges against him; [[crimes against humanity]] including murder, [[rape]] and [[persecution]], as did his co-accused [[Charles Blé Goudé]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35424653|title=Laurent Gbagbo: Ivory Coast ex-leader denies war crimes|work=BBC News|date=28 January 2016|access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/01/28/world/europe/ap-eu-international-court-ivory-coast.html |title=Ex-Ivory Coast Leader Pleads Not Guilty to Atrocities |date=28 January 2016 |agency=Associated Press|access-date=30 January 2016|via=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref> Due to presenting a flight risk and maintaining a network of supporters, judges ordered him to remain in detention during his trial.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://ewn.co.za/2017/09/27/icc-former-ivory-coast-president-gbagbo-to-remain-in-detention-for-trial |title = ICC: Former Ivory Coast president Gbagbo to remain in detention for trial |agency = Reuters |access-date=26 October 2017 |language=en }}</ref> From January 2016 to January 2018, ICC prosecutors presented the testimony of 82 witnesses and thousands of pieces of evidence. Gbagbo filed a "[[no case to answer]]" motion in July 2018, and hearings were held in November 2018.<ref name="Batros"/>

On 15 January 2019 Gbagbo and Goudé were acquitted by an ICC panel and their release was ordered.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/ex-ivory-coast-president-laurent-gbagbo-acquitted-at-icc |title = Ex-Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo acquitted at ICC |last=Maclean |first=Ruth |date=15 January 2019 |newspaper = The Guardian}}</ref>  Presiding Judge [[Cuno Tarfusser]] and Judge Geoffrey Henderson ruled in favor of release; Judge [[Olga Venecia Herrera Carbuccia|Olga Carbuccia]] issued a [[dissenting opinion]].<ref name="Batros"/>

Many within the Ivory Coast celebrated Gbagbo's acquittal.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-46881807/crowds-react-to-ivory-coast-s-ex-president-laurent-gbagbo-s-release | title=  Crowds react to Ivory Coast's ex-President Laurent Gbagbo's release | date = 15 January 2019 | access-date = 15 January 2019 |work=BBC News}}</ref> [[Amnesty International]] called the acquittal of Gbagbo and Blé Goudé "a crushing disappointment to victims of post-election violence in Cote d'Ivoire" but noted that the Office of the Prosecutor was likely to appeal.<ref>[https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/cote-divoire-acquittal-of-gbagbo-and-ble-goude-a-crushing-disappointment-to-victims-of-post-election-violence/ Cote d'Ivoire: Acquittal of Gbagbo and Blé Goudé a crushing disappointment to victims of post-election violence], Amnesty International (15 January 2018).</ref> The proceedings against Gbagbo were the first against a head of state undertaken by the ICC, and the failure of the ICC to convict Gbagbo for the mass atrocities was said by analysts to significantly impair the credibility of the ICC as a court of last resort.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46874517 |title=  Laurent Gbagbo case: Ivory Coast leader's acquittal rattles ICC foundations | first=  Anna | last = Holligan | date = 15 January 2019 | access-date = 15 January 2019 | work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/world/africa/laurent-gbagbo-ivory-coast-icc.html | title=  Laurent Gbagbo, Former Ivory Coast Leader, Acquitted of Crimes Against Humanity | first1 =  Dionne | last1 = Searcey | first2= Palko | last2= Karasz  | date =15 January 2019 | access-date = 15 January 2019 | work = [[The New York Times]] }}</ref>

===Appeal===
The ICC (International Criminal Court) panel ordered Gbagbo's immediate release, but the ICC Appeals Chamber ordered that Gbagbo remain in custody pending consideration of ICC prosecutors' appeal against Gbagbo's acquittal.<ref name="KeepCustody"/> On 1 February 2019, he was released after ICC Appeals Chamber granted Gbagbo conditional release from detention; he was allowed to live in Belgium, but had to be available to return to court,<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Ivory Coast President Gbagbo conditionally released to Belgium: court|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-warcrimes-ivorycoast/ex-ivory-coast-president-gbagbo-conditionally-released-to-belgium-court-idUSKCN1PU2ET|work=Reuters |date=5 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and could not leave Belgium.<ref name=Corder>Mike Corder, [https://apnews.com/c00f3edafa411b15d7ff359cd547e1b1 Lawyers to ICC: Free Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo unconditionally], Associated Press (6 February 2020).</ref> Gbagbo's lawyers then petitioned the ICC for Gbagbo's unconditional release.<ref name=Corder/>

On 28 May 2020, the International Criminal Court gave Gbagbo permission to leave [[Belgium]] if certain conditions were met. At the time, it was unclear if he would be allowed to return to Côte d'Ivoire.<ref>{{cite web |title=ICC allows former I.Coast president Gbagbo to leave Belgium |url=https://news.yahoo.com/icc-allows-former-coast-president-gbagbo-leave-belgium-220247856.html |website=news.yahoo.com |access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>

On 30 October 2020, Gbagbo said the [[2020 Ivorian presidential election]] spells "disaster" for the country, in his first public comments since being toppled in 2011. He gave the interview in Belgium, where he was awaiting the outcome of proceedings against him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-I.Coast president Gbagbo warns of 'disaster' in upcoming vote |url=https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/world/ex-i-coast-president-gbagbo-warns-of-disaster-in-upcoming-vote/ar-BB1aw1Qf?bep_ref=1&bep_csid=23298 |website=www.msn.com |access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref>

In March 2021, the ICC upheld Gbagbo's acquittal. Shortly afterwards, Ouattara stated he was free to return to Côte d'Ivoire.<ref name=":0" />

=== Return to Cote d'Ivoire ===
After his acquittal was confirmed, current Ivorian President [[Alassane Ouattara]], Gbagbo's rival, invited him back to Côte d'Ivoire.<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 June 2021|title=Ivory Coast's ex-President Gbagbo returns home after ICC acquittal|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57471468|access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref> He arrived in [[Abidjan|Adbidjan]] on 17 June 2021, on a commercial flight from [[Brussels]], where he had been living for the previous three years after being released from detention.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=17 June 2021|title=Ivory Coast's ex-President Gbagbo returns home after ICC acquittal|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57471468|access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Ex-President Laurent Gbagbo back in Ivory Coast after acquittal|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/17/former-president-laurent-gbagbo-returns-to-ivory-coast|access-date=18 June 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}</ref> Ouattara arranged him a diplomatic passport, and promised him the benefits that are typically given to ex-presidents, including state-provided security and a state pension.<ref name=":1" />

Six of Gbagbo's former allies also returned after spending years in exile after being encouraged by the current president Ouattara.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20210614-three-key-factors-behind-laurent-gbagbo-s-return-to-c%C3%B4te-d-ivoire-alassane-ouattara-politics-elections-africa | title=Three key factors behind Laurent Gbagbo's return to Côte d'Ivoire |website=rfi.fr| date=14 June 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-ouattara-afirma-gbagbo-ble-goude-pueden-volver-costa-marfil-cuando-quieran-ser-absueltos-tpi-20210407152003.html | title=Ouattara afirma que Gbagbo y Blé Goudé pueden volver a Costa de Marfil "cuando quieran" tras ser absueltos por el TPI |website=Europa Press International| date=7 April 2021 }}</ref> In October 2021, Gbagbo launched a new political party called the African People's Party – Cote d'Ivoire (PPA-CI).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211016-gbagbo-takes-new-step-to-i-coast-presidency-as-new-party-holds-congress|title = Gbagbo takes new step to I.Coast presidency as new party holds congress|website=France 24|date = 16 October 2021}}</ref> In December 2021, he spent four days in [[Ghana]]. According to a statement from his party, he went there to attend the funeral of Captain [[Kojo Tsikata]], a man close to the former president of Ghana [[Jerry Rawlings]]. Laurent Gbagbo also visited the Ivorian exiles, whose return he wanted to the country since the Ivorian crisis, 11,000 Ivorians fled the post-election crisis to seek asylum in neighboring Ghana.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20211214-c%C3%B4te-d-ivoire-laurent-gbagbo-veut-le-retour-des-exil%C3%A9s-ivoiriens-au-ghana | title=Côte d'Ivoire: Laurent Gbagbo veut le retour des exilés ivoiriens au Ghana |website=rfi.fr| date=14 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Laurent-Gbagbo-eulogizes-Kojo-Tsikata-and-Rawlings-during-a-visit-to-Ghana-1425052 | title=Laurent Gbagbo eulogizes Kojo Tsikata and Rawlings during a visit to Ghana |website=GhanaWeb| date=16 December 2021 }}</ref>

On 10 March 2024, Gbagbo said that he would run again for president as leader of the PPA-CI in elections to be held in October 2025.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20240310-former-ivory-coast-president-gbagbo-agrees-to-run-in-2025-election | title=Former Ivorian president Gbagbo agrees to run in 2025 election |website=France 24 | date=10 March 2024}}</ref>