Gbagbo’s spokesperson criticizes France 24 over misleading interview title

“After the broadcast of the interview with Mrs. Simone Ehivet, titled ‘Simone Gbagbo Wants Laurent Gbagbo to Step Down if She Leads in the Ivorian Presidential Race,’ we wish to express our deep regret over the misleading nature of this title,” said Habiba Touré.

“The headline implies a rivalry within a couple that no longer exists since their divorce, which is a false and misleading interpretation,” Touré, who represents the African Peoples’ Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) and opposition leader Laurent Gbagbo, stated.

Touré further noted that Mrs. Simone Ehivet had publicly announced her divorce from Laurent Gbagbo through a statement issued by her lawyer, Ange Rodrigue Dadjé.

“We therefore question the intentions of France 24, which is fully aware of this fact but continues to refer to her incorrectly as Simone Gbagbo instead of Simone Ehivet,” Touré emphasized.

“In the current context, where opposition unity is crucial, it is regrettable that a television channel has chosen to present the interview in this manner, using the surname of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo,” she continued.

“We urge the channel to exercise greater diligence in their reporting and to be mindful of the impact such headlines can have on the political and social discourse,” Touré urged, speaking on behalf of Gbagbo.

“We hope this incident will serve as a reminder of the importance of journalistic ethics and the responsibility of all media to disseminate accurate, precise, and objective information,” she concluded.

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo married Nady Bamba on August 8, 2024, in a ceremony officiated by Jean-Marc Yacé, the mayor of Cocody, a prestigious district in the east of Abidjan.

The event, held at a Catholic church, was widely covered by the communications team of his party, PPA-CI.