The race for Ivory Coast’s presidency has become even more competitive with the entry of Simone Ehivet, the ex-wife of former President Laurent Gbagbo. Ehivet secured her nomination from the Movement of Capable Generations (MGC) during a congress held in her hometown of Moossou in the southeastern Ivory Coast.
In her acceptance speech, Ehivet outlined her key priorities, emphasising national reconciliation through amnesty, promoting food sovereignty, and advancing industrialisation.
Simone Ehivet’s political journey began in the 1970s as a teacher and trade union activist. Her rise in the political sphere accelerated after meeting Laurent Gbagbo in 1973. The two co-founded the Popular Ivorian Front (FPI) in 1982 to challenge the rule of Ivory Coast’s first president, Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
The couple’s partnership extended across activism and governance for decades until their divorce in June 2023, after 34 years of marriage. Despite their separation, Ehivet has continued to carve her own path in Ivorian politics.
Ehivet’s former party, the FPI, is now under the leadership of Pascal Affi N’Guessan, who has also declared his candidacy for the 2025 presidential election. N’Guessan seized control of the FPI during Laurent Gbagbo’s incarceration on war crimes charges.
With Ehivet now a contender, the 2025 presidential election promises to be a dynamic and competitive race, featuring a growing list of seasoned politicians and party leaders. Her campaign will likely focus on her vision for national unity and economic transformation, as well as her longstanding history of activism and leadership.