the President of Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 until his arrest in April 2011
Education
Laurent Gbagbo is a historian by profession. He got the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in his motherland. Laurent continued his education in The University of Lyon in France and in the The Sorbonne, where in 1970 he got The Master of Humanities degree. He returned in France 9 years later to defend his doctoral thesis in history in the University of Paris. The subject of his researches was “The main tendencies of social and economic policy of Ivory Coast in the 1940-1960’s”. What concerns Contemporary history of the country, it is written with the direct participation of Doctor Gbagbo, who combined the work of politician with the work of teacher.
Career
For the first time Laurent Gbagbo was arrested for his opposition activity in 1971 and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. He was hiding from the pursuit from 1982 till 1988 and was living in exile in France. After his comeback to the native land Laurent again was arrested for the participation in student protest actions in Abidjan.
In the end of the year 2000 with the sharp economic decrease, an acute political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire blew up. Taking this opportunity the head of the military junta Laurent Gay announced himself the president. However a thousand of people left their homes and came out as a token of protest. After that the dictator fled and presidential elections were announced.
The presidential elections took place on October 25, 2000 and Laurent Gbagbo won a victory. However having become a victor he wasn’t able to announce that he got general support as only nearly two million of people came to vote.
The next day conflicts arose between the advocates of Laurent Gbagbo and the supporters of his main political adversary Alassane Ouattara, who wasn’t allowed to the election participation by the Supreme Court. Avoiding pursuit from the new-elected president Alassane Ouattara was hiding in the residence of German Ambassador. However the Gbagbo’s proponents made assault on the German Governance regardless of diplomatic immunity. This incident aggravated the relations between Côte d’Ivoire and Germany and moreover intensified weapon opposition of two sides. In fact, armed conflict is still in progress.
Laurent Gbagbo tries to follow the policy which is targeted at setting peace and order in the country. In March 2001 in Côte d’Ivoire municipal elections were held, in which the candidates from all parties participated. Moreover, the oppositional party Rally of the Republicans, which is headed by Alassane Ouattara, won in the majority of communes. These elections serve as a turning point in seeking ways to the national reconciliation.
Through the mediation of France in Paris a peaceful treatment was signed between the enemies. According to this treatment the President must appoint a representative of political opposition to the position of Prime Minister and form a new transitional administration in order to save his own position. However such a right step, in fact, caused a sharp protest from the capital’s residents.
On 11 November, 2003 the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire discovered a plot. The task of the plot was to murder the catholic archbishop Abidjan cardinal Bernard Agré and other religious and political figures of the country. They say that this plot should have destabilized the political environment and draw the resignation of the government.
Laurent Gbagbo is a firm person. He has proved this characteristic for many times being in opposition and at the top of power. He continues his policy regardless of human rights activists’ protests, accusing him of sanctioning tortures and executions to his political adversaries. A hot-tempered president can’t stand “insolent” journalists. Many of them have already caught it hot from presidential security.
According to the data which is taken from American research center “The Pew Research Centre” 88 percent of country’s residents approve the activity Laurent Gbagbo. However, real stabilization of social and economic situation in Côte d’Ivoire is still a long way off.