SaralnamaSimone Gbagbo, former First Lady of Ivory Coast, will run for president in October's elections. The 76-year-old was allowed to contest despite a past criminal conviction. Known as the 'iron lady', Gbagbo was a powerful figure during her ex-husband Laurent's presidency from 2000 to 2011. She co-founded the Ivorian Popular Front party and was jailed for political activism. After Laurent's fall from power in 2011, Simone was sentenced to 20 years in prison but later pardoned. She has now formed a new party and aims to become Ivory Coast's first female president. Her campaign promises a 'modernised' and 'prosperous' country. (Updated 13 Sep 2025, 07:06 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- Simone Gbagbo, former First Lady of Ivory Coast, will run for president in October's elections
- The 76-year-old was allowed to contest despite a past criminal conviction
- Known as the 'iron lady', Gbagbo was a powerful figure during her ex-husband Laurent's presidency from 2000 to 2011