Simone Gbagbo: From Bunker to Presidential Candidate in Ivory Coast

Wed Oct 22 2025 01:20:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Simone Gbagbo, the former First Lady of Ivory Coast, makes a surprising comeback as she announces her candidacy for the presidency, aiming to reshape the nation's future after years of political strife and personal challenges.

Seventy-six-year-old Simone Gbagbo returns to the political arena as a presidential candidate in Ivory Coast following a turbulent history that includes a criminal conviction and the trauma of civil war. Once known as the 'iron lady' of Ivorian politics, Gbagbo is now seeking to modernize the nation, highlighting her journey from a fugitive to a political contender. With promises to address women's underrepresentation in leadership, her candidacy marks a significant moment in Ivory Coast's political landscape.

Former Ivory Coast First Lady Simone Gbagbo has gone from hiding in a bunker in an attempt to avoid arrest to defiantly announcing she will run for president.

In an extraordinary comeback, the controversial 76-year-old was this week surprisingly allowed to contest October's elections, calling on supporters to help 'build a new nation'.

For years, Gbagbo worked side-by-side with her ex-husband Laurent, and was considered to be the power behind his throne. Now, with a criminal conviction and a divorce behind her, she takes centre stage as a presidential candidate in her own right.

Gbagbo was Ivory Coast's first lady from 2000 to 2011 and was dubbed 'the iron lady' due to her reputation for toughness. While her supporters fondly called her 'maman' (French for 'mum'), Gbagbo was feared within the party she set up with her husband, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI).

At rallies, Gbagbo often invoked her evangelist Christian faith, firing off spirited, eloquent speeches in support of her husband. Having met Laurent in 1973 while both were powerful figures in the trade union movement, they would spend decades in political struggle against oppression in Ivory Coast.

The couple's political activism and leadership led them to numerous imprisonments, reflecting their commitment to the fight against the oppressive regime of the time.

After the contentious elections of 2010, during which Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to Alassane Ouattara, Ivory Coast descended into civil war. Simone's defense of Laurent during this time and their subsequent arrest marked a dramatic decline in their political fortunes.

Following a tumultuous period, Gbagbo returned to the political scene, forming a new party and promising a brighter future if elected. Her candidacy is particularly significant in a nation where women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, making her a symbol of hope and resilience.

As the elections approach, all eyes will be on Simone Gbagbo, who stands poised to make history as Ivory Coast's first female president.