Ivorian left does not exist as commonly thought, says Laurent Gbagbo's wife

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 Félix Houphouët-Boigny and Laurent Gbagbo. She describes Houphouët-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 "Houphouëtists" 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