Laurent Gbagbo has been the Ivory Coast's head of state since his election to the presidency in 2000 - even though his mandate theoretically expired in 2005. Between 2002 and 2003, the country plunged into political chaos and was effectively split in two.

Since Gbagbo’s term expired in 2005, repeated attempts to hold presidential elections have failed despite pressure from the international community. In his interview with FRANCE 24, Gbagbo promised to hold elections in Nov. 2008.

“It’s on Nov. 30, 2008. I would like them to be even earlier. If I could make another decree to fix an earlier date, I would do it willingly.”

Refusing to rule out his candidacy for the Nov. elections, Gbagbo implicitly compared himself to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

“Churchill was the pride of all of Western Europe, but he was beaten. So, one can also be beaten.”

The complexities of Franco-African relations

Franco-Ivorian relations have been declining in recent years. Today, however, Gbagbo suggests relations between the two countries are improving.

“The relations today are good, a thousand times better than under (former French President) Jacques Chirac. I believe that on the issue of relations between France and the Ivory Coast, there have been certain developments that have played a very important role – like (French President) Nicolas Sarkozy’s speech in Cape Town…While questioning the defense accords signed in 1961, Nicolas Sarkozy opened the way for the normalization of relations between France and African nations.”

Gbagbo was referring to Sarkozy’s Feb. 28 speech to the South African parliament in Cape Town, when the French president proclaimed a new era in France’s relations with its former African colonies and called for the withdrawal of French troops posted under post-colonial defense agreements between Paris and the newly independent African nations.

The disappearance of Guy-André Kieffer: an “ordinary” affair

Questioned about the April 16, 2004 disappearance of Franco-Canadian journalist Guy-André Kieffer, Gbagbo denied all responsibility. Kieffer was investigating corruption in the country’s vital coco industry.

“Guy André Kieffer disappeared. We did as much as we could to investigate this case. We carried out a lot of investigations.”

He also maintained that he would not prevent justice from taking its course. The judge "enters the Ivory Coast when he wants, he leaves when he wants. I only learn that he has come in, left. It’s his business. It’s not mine any more.”

Indeed, though Judge Patrick Ramaël, a French judge in charge of the investigation, has been allowed to enter the country, he has repeatedly complained that he has not been given access to certain individuals.

Gbagbo concluded the issue by playing down its importance.

“One should not try to politicize things.”