The PPA-CI (Parti des peuples africains-Côte d’Ivoire), led by former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, has barred several party officials and activists from attending its first ordinary congress scheduled for May 14-15, 2026 in Abidjan.
The decision follows disciplinary measures taken against those who defied the party’s directive to abstain from the October 2025 presidential election and the December 2025 legislative polls. The banned members include Don Mello, Stéphane Kipré, Dali Arthur, and Armand Ouégnin, among others.
In a statement, the party’s leadership stressed that these individuals remain ineligible to participate in the congress until their disciplinary cases are resolved. The upcoming gathering, to be held at the Abidjan Palace of Culture, aims to strengthen party unity and reinvigorate grassroots support.
Internal divisions have deepened within the PPA-CI as high-ranking members openly challenged Gbagbo’s stance on electoral participation. The party’s decision to exclude dissenting figures underscores the ongoing struggle to maintain cohesion ahead of the landmark congress.
