Côte d’Ivoire: Laurent Gbagbo reshapes PPA-CI leadership with new collective structure

In a strategic move announced on August 10, Laurent Gbagbo, President of the Parti des Peuples Africains-Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), has appointed five senior officials to key positions within the party. This reorganization aims to distribute responsibilities more evenly while maintaining the former President at the core of the party’s governance.

New leadership structure unveiled

Following his re-election as PPA-CI president in May 2026, Laurent Gbagbo had indicated plans to delegate certain powers. Initially, the idea was to entrust responsibilities to a single figure, but the final decision involved appointing five party officials to strategic roles.

The newly appointed leadership includes Assoa Adou, who becomes First Vice-President with responsibility for ensuring adherence to the party’s political line. Hubert Oulaye has been named Second Vice-President, overseeing party operations and presiding over Central Committee meetings.

Emmanuel Ackah, former Ambassador, takes on the role of Third Vice-President, focusing on party mobilization. Meanwhile, Justin Katinan Koné retains his position as supervisor of the party’s general policy. Sébastien Dano Djédjé has been appointed Chairman of the Strategic and Political Council, a new body tasked with overseeing the party’s activities.

Gbagbo maintains central role in party governance

Laurent Gbagbo describes this restructuring as a shift toward a more collective leadership, emphasizing shared responsibilities and unified action. However, political analysts note that this change does not fundamentally alter the party’s governance dynamics.

According to observers, the five newly appointed officials will primarily handle day-to-day party management, while strategic leadership remains firmly in the hands of Laurent Gbagbo. This reorganization reflects the PPA-CI’s effort to build a more structured leadership framework following the reappointment of its founder as party president. Details regarding the coordination mechanisms among these officials have yet to be disclosed.