
Hadja Nadiani Bamba, wife of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, argues that the concept of a traditional left-right political spectrum does not accurately reflect Ivorian political reality. She states that the debate surrounding the "union of the left" is a distraction from the country's unique political history, which is primarily shaped by influential figures rather than abstract ideologies. Bamba, a former journalist and a grassroots activist for President Gbagbo's party since 1999, asserts that for most Ivorians, political affiliation is defined by loyalty to key leaders like F茅lix Houphou毛t-Boigny and Laurent Gbagbo. She describes Houphou毛t-Boigny as the father of independence, associated with stability and international partnerships, while Gbagbo is seen as the father of multipartyism and a figure who championed the marginalized, promoted free education, and restored dignity to Ivorian planters. Bamba highlights that Gbagbo is perceived as a man of struggle and resilience who brought significant changes, including freedom of speech and power redistribution. She contends that the Ivorian political landscape is essentially divided between "Houphou毛tists" and "Gbagboists." Bamba also addresses internal divisions within the Ivorian Popular Front FPI after Gbagbo's deportation in 2011, noting the split between those who, like Pascal Affi Nguessan, sought to engage with the institutional political system, and those who, like Abdourahmane Sangare, remained loyal to Gbagb
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Must ReadThe Rally of Houphou毛tists for Democracy and Peace RHDP has welcomed the Ivorian government's decision to dissolve the Independent Electoral Commission CEI, announced after the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Ibrahima Ciss茅 Bacongo, on May 8, the ruling party acknowledged the decision, noting that the CEI had organized and supervised various elections in C么te d'Ivoire for the past twenty-five years. Despite its efforts, the electoral body had consistently faced criticism from political actors and civil society organizations. The RHDP expressed satisfaction that the government addressed these concerns by dissolving the institution. The party reaffirmed its full support for President Alassane Ouattara, stating that he continues to demonstrate his responsiveness to citizens' needs for a peaceful, prosperous, and united C么te d'Ivoire. The RHDP urged political actors and civil society organizations to fully engage in preserving peace and trust to establish a new electoral management mechanism that ensures calm elections in C么te d'Ivoire.
Must ReadThe Central Bank of West African States BCEAO hosted an international conference in Dakar on May 8, 2026, focusing on the opportunities and challenges presented by crypto-assets and digital innovations for monetary and financial stability. This event follows similar conferences in 2024 and 2025 on climate change and artificial intelligence, respectively. The conference aims to analyze the implications of these digital advancements and establish appropriate regulatory frameworks. Jean Claude Kassi Brou, Governor of the BCEAO, highlighted that crypto-assets, digital payment platforms, and the increasing digitalization of financial services are reshaping financial intermediation and challenging traditional regulatory and supervisory frameworks. He emphasized that while these tools are powerful drivers of modernization, they also introduce risks and vulnerabilities, calling for rigorous international dialogue on emerging digital finance issues. The BCEAO has initiated structural actions to support this transformation. Cheikh Diba, the Senegalese Minister of Finance and Budget, noted that these innovations offer unprecedented opportunities but also demand increased collective responsibility to address complex challenges related to regulation, security, and stability. He identified key risks such as the growth of shadow banking, excessive volatility in crypto-asset markets, fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, cyberattacks, and operational vulnerabilities. Diba expressed o
Must ReadThis article features an excerpt from the speech delivered by former President Laurent Gbagbo during the Central Committee meeting on May 7, 2026. The speech was published on Friday, May 8, 2026, by Autre Presse TV. The article is part of a larger collection of political activities from 2025-2026 on Abidjan.net, which also includes other news such as the dissolution of the CEI, the appointment of Ibrahime Coulibaly Kuibiert as President of the Council of State, and the adoption of the PND 2026-2030 by the Senate in Yamoussoukro.