Home > Laurent Gbagbo

From Gagnoa , he was professor of English at the University of Cocody-Abidjan, and later dean of the faculty of Languages and Cultures. He founded the Ivorian People's Front (Front populaire ivoirien) in 1982, but went into exile in France in 1985. He returned in 1988.

Gbagbo ran in the presidential election of 1990, but received only 11% of the vote against the country's veteran leader, Félix Houphouët-Boigny. He later became minister of education as a member of the FPI. He ran for president against the military ruler Robert Guéï in the elections of October 22, 2000; when Guéï claimed victory, a popular revolt in favor of Gbagbo (who claimed he had actually won with 59.4% of the vote) broke out in the capital, Abidjan. Guéï was forced to flee, and Gbagbo became president on October 26October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. Events 740 An earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death. 1640 The Treaty of Ripon is signed, restoring peace between Sc.

On September 19September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). There are 103 days remaining. Events 1356 In Battle of Poitiers English defeat French 1692 Giles Corey is pressed to death after refusing to plead in the Salem witch trials. 1777 First Battl, 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom, rebellious soldiers attempted to seize the cities of Abidjan, BouakéBouak is the second largest city in Cote d'Ivoire. French and United Nations peacekeepers currently reside in the city as part of an enforced ceasefire between the rebel-held north and the government-held south. On November 4, 2004, governmental forces us, and KorhogoKorhogo is a town and administrative district in the mountainous north-central region of Cote d'Ivoire. It has a population of 163,400 ( 2002 estimate). It produces and/or processes goods such as cotton, kapok, rice, millet, peanuts, corn, yams, sheep, go. They failed to take Abijdan, but were successful in the other two, respectively in the center and north of the country. The situation quickly developed into a civil war between a government-held south and a rebel-held north, but after several months of fighting a peace agreement was reached and French peacekeepers arrived to patrol a cease-fire line. According to the terms of the agreement, Gbagbo would remain in office (the rebels had previously demanded his resignation), but a new unity government would be formed under a "neutral" prime minister, including the FPI, the civilian opposition and representatives of the rebel groups. The agreement has been opposed by many of the president's supporters, who believe too many concessions are being granted to the rebels and that the French are supporting the rebels' political objectives.

Early in November 2004, after the peace agreement had effectively collapsed following the rebels' refusal to disarm, Gbagbo ordered airstrikes against the rebels. During one of these airstrikes in Bouaké, French soldiers were hit and nine of them were killed; the Ivorian government has said it was a mistake, but the French have claimed it was deliberate. They responded by destroying most Ivoirian military aircraft, and violent retaliatory riots against the French broke out in Abidjan. See also: Politics of Côte d'IvoireCote d'Ivoire is a republic, with a multiparty presidential regime established in 1960. Political Conditions In a region whose political systems have otherwise been noted for lack of stability, Cote d'Ivoire has shown remarkable political stability since, Civil war in Côte d'IvoireThe Civil war in Cote d'Ivoire began on September 19, 2002, and restarted in November 2004. Forces These include: official government forces, the National Army (FANCI), also called loyalists formed and equipped essentially since 2003 the Young Patriots vi