The Parti des Peuples Africains-Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), led by former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, has announced that several of its party officials and activists will be barred from attending its first ordinary congress scheduled for May 14 and 15, 2026, in Abidjan. The decision was outlined in an official statement.

Disciplinary measures take precedence

The restriction applies to individuals facing internal disciplinary proceedings. These cadres and militants disregarded the PPA-CI’s directive to abstain from both the October 2025 presidential election and the December 27, 2025 legislative polls in Côte d’Ivoire. The party has emphasized that the exclusion will remain in effect until the conclusion of these proceedings.

Party unity at a crossroads

The upcoming congress, set to take place at the Abidjan Palace of Culture, aims to reinforce the party’s structure and rally its members. However, internal divisions have cast a shadow over the event, as high-ranking officials and loyalists openly challenged the leadership’s stance on electoral participation—a move that has triggered formal disciplinary actions.

Laurent Gbagbo, the party’s figurehead, has taken a firm position against participation in recent national elections, and the PPA-CI’s leadership is now enforcing consequences for those who defied the directive. The congress will serve as a critical moment for the party to address these fractures and redefine its strategic direction.