Former first lady Simone Gbagbo joins Côte d'Ivoire presidential race

She is among five approved candidates including the incumbent president, Alassane Ouattara, former ministers Ahoua Don Mello, Jean-Louis Billon and Henriette Lagou.

The former first lady, ex-wife of former president Laurent Ggagbo, whose candidacy was disqualified due to past convictions,will lead her own party, the Movement of Capable Generations (MGC). Her candidacy is seen as significant in a country where women's representation in leadership has been minimal.

The president hopefulbegan her political career alongside her husband in 1980, rising as a trade unionist before her arrest in 2011at the end of the country’s worst period of post-election violence.

Accused of undermining state security and implicated in abuse during the post-election clashes that left at least 3,000 people dead, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2015. The veteran unionist was granted amnesty by President Ouattara in 2018 andsubsequently released after seven years of detention.

Nicknamed the “Iron Lady,” Gbagbo is campaigning on political reform, reconciliation, and social justice. She has promised to create more opportunities for young and aspiring leaders and is primarily targeting women's votes, pledging a better future and recognition in government and society.