Former First Lady of Ivory Coast, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, took her presidential campaign to Yopougon, a populous district of Abidjan, where she held a major rally on Wednesday, October 22, focused on mobilizing women voters.
Hundreds of women dressed in the colors of her Generations Capables Movement (MGC) gathered under the scorching sun to hear her message of empowerment, unity, and political renewal.
The rally marked a turning point in Simone Gbagbo’s campaign as she seeks to build strong grassroots support ahead of the 2025 presidential election.
Speaking passionately to her supporters, Simone Gbagbo called on Ivorian women to take charge of the country’s destiny by actively participating in politics.
“Our time has come,” she said to cheers from the crowd. “For too long, women have been sidelined from decision-making. This movement is about giving power back to the people, especially the women who have carried this nation on their shoulders.”
Her message resonated strongly with the crowd, many of whom view her as a symbol of resilience and determination after years of political struggle.
Dieng Ndeye Kady, the Abidjan North Coordinator of MGC, praised the enthusiasm seen at the event.
“The various meetings in the interior of the country and in Abidjan have generated real enthusiasm among the population,” she told The Africa Standard. “Everywhere she went, the message was heard and welcomed warmly.”
Simone Gbagbo’s campaign has so far centered on issues of peace, justice, and national reconciliation.
Her supporters believe she has the moral strength and political experience to unite a country that has long been divided by conflict and partisanship.
“She is our David who will defeat Goliath,” declared Odette Tiémélé, the National Coordinator in charge of women at MGC. “With her, we are not here just to participate. We are here to win.”
Tiémélé added that Ivorians are “tired of mourning deaths at the end of every political crisis” and that Simone Gbagbo represents a peaceful path to change.
The former First Lady’s reemergence in national politics has reignited debates about her legacy and influence.
Once a powerful figure alongside her husband, former President Laurent Gbagbo, Simone Gbagbo spent years in detention following the 2010–2011 post-election conflict.
Her supporters view her political comeback as a story of redemption, while critics see it as a reminder of the country’s turbulent past.
Nevertheless, her charisma and ability to connect with ordinary Ivorians have positioned her as a serious contender in next year’s race.
Simone Gbagbo made it clear during the rally that she is not entering the race to play a secondary role.
“I am not here to fill space or to accompany anyone,” she said. “I am here to lead, to win, and to serve.”
She expressed confidence that her campaign would push incumbent President Alassane Ouattara into a second-round runoff, a scenario that could dramatically reshape Ivorian politics.
Political analysts say her strategy of mobilizing women and youth could prove decisive in the election.
“The MGC has successfully tapped into growing frustration among young people and women who feel excluded from mainstream politics,” said political analyst Kouadio Yao.
As her campaign gathers momentum, Simone Gbagbo’s message of peaceful change is resonating across the nation.
Her supporters have begun describing her as the “Mother of the Nation in waiting,” reflecting their hopes that she could become Ivory Coast’s first female president.
With less than a year to go before the polls, the atmosphere in Abidjan is already heating up, and Simone Gbagbo’s movement appears determined to make history.
Whether she succeeds or not, her rally in Yopougon has firmly placed her back at the center of the country’s political stage.
