SDF Leader, Hon. Joshua OSIH, Was Special Guest Of Former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, At The 3rd Edition of The Renaissance Festival

SDF Of Cameroon And PPA – CI Of Ivory Coast Are United By Pan – Africanism And ‘Sovereigntism’ For A New Africa

OSIH Received Blessings From His Peers In Ivory Coast, To Represent The African – Left, At The 2025 Presidential Election In Cameroon 

SDF, Through Its National Chairman, Hon Joshua OSIH, Is As Well The Current Coordinator Of The Activities Of The Progressive Alliance In Africa 

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, Chief Hon Joshua NAMBANGI OSIH,  was a special guest of the former President Of Ivory Coast and Pan – African leader, Laurent  GBAGBO, at the 3^rd edition of the ‘Fete de la Renaissance ‘ ( Renaissance Festival) which held in Ivory Coast from April 11 -12, 2025.  This information is contained in a press release issued by the Communication Office of the SDF.

Meanwhile according to the organizers of the grand event, Renaissance Festival symbolizes the liberation of the former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo from neo –colonialism prison, following his acquittal by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on March 31, 2021, the SDF press release states.

It would be recalled that the then incumbent candidate, Laurent Gbagbo, who won the 2010 presidential election in Ivory Coast, was forcefully removed from office by a militia group backed by the French military, on April 11, 2011, in order to forcibly put the French choice in the post of President of Ivory Coast. The forceful removal of President Gbagbo from office with the support of the French military on that fateful day of April 11, 2011, came after Gbagbo and his supporters had mounted a strong and long resistance in the defense of the democratic choice of the Ivorian people at the 2010 presidential election, which was his re-election.

From FPI To PPA – CI

It should be noted that SDF of Cameroon headed by Hon Osih, and President Gbagbo’s PPA – CI Cote d’Ivoire, are bound together by Pan – Africanism and the quest of genuine sovereignty for a New Africa. Talking about Gbagbo’s PPA – CI party which in English is the African People’ Party -Ivory Coast, it is in fact relatively new. President Gbagbo’s party was initially FPI known in English as Ivorian Popular Front. The party was in the hands of Gbagbo’s close collaborators in he party during the 10 year period (2011 -2021) that he was detained at The Hague.

When Gbagbo returned to Ivory Coast following the ICC ruling that discharged and acquitted him of the fake charges that were fabricated against him, Gbagbo came to realize that some of his presumed closed collaborators, or comrades, were not willing to see him back at the leadership of the FPI. This came especially when he hinted on his intention to run in the next presidential election in Ivory Coast.  But rather that engaged in a fight to take back his party, Gbagbo told his faithful supporters to calm down, and that if they were no longer wanted in FPI, it was okay. He went on to create the a party, PPA – CI., and within a few months the new party certainly because of  the man, Laurent Gbagbo, grew so rapidly to  become one of the major opposition parties in Ivory Coast.

Gbagbo And Osih Discussed Shared Vision   

Meanwhile the SDF press release states as well that during the Renaissance Festival in Ivory Coast last week, President Laurent Gbagbo warmly received his special guest, Hon Joshua Osih, the National Chairman of the SDF, and that “the two parties engaged in fruitful discussions on their shared vision for a united, sovereign Africa – free from the chains of neo colonialism, and firmly committed to social justice, genuine democracy and inclusive development”. Also, Chairman Osih who actively participated in the 3^rd edition of the Renaissance Festival, “received from his Ivorian  peers the symbolic blessing to carry forward the flame of Pan –Africanism in Cameroon, and to proudly represent the African Left in the upcoming October 2025 Presidential Election in Cameroon”.

Also worth noting, that the SDF through its National Chairman, Hon Joshua Osih, is currently the Coordinator of the Progressive Alliance in Africa. Hon Osih was elected the Coordinator of the activities of the Progressive Alliance in Africa, at the Progressive Alliance Global Convention that held in Santiago, Chile (South America) from October 4 – 6, 2024. Two other members of the Social Democratic Front, Dr HAOUA Maleinie and Benjamin ACHU FRU, were also elected as Board members of the Progressive Alliance.

MEANWHILE BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY, IS THE PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY  THE COMMUNICATION OFFICE OF THE SDF ON THE PARTY’S PARTICIPATION AT THE 3^RD RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL THAT HELD IN IVORY COAST FROM APRIL 11 – 12, 2025:

The SDF And The PPA – CI United By Pan – Africanism and Sovereigntism For A New Africa

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, Hon Joshua Osih, honoured with his presence at the 3^rd Edition of the Fete de la Renaissance (Renaissance Festival) held on 11 and 12 April 2025 in Dabou, Cote d”Ivoire, as Guest of Honour of President Laurent Gbagbo.

Initially launched by the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) under the name Festival of Liberty, this event, now known as the Fete de la Renaissance, symbolizes the liberation of President Laurent Gbagbo from neo – colonial prison, following his acquittal by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on 31 March 2021.

For the 2022 edition, the African People’s Party – Cote d’Ivoire (PPA – CI) chose to return to Dabou – a place of great historical significance, where the country’s first opposition party was clandestinely launched in 1988, as well as well as the date of 11^th April 2011 marks the threatre of the historic resistance against neo – colonialism, when President Gbagbo was forcibly removed from the Presidency of Cote d’Ivoire. Two dates, two places, two powerful symbols marking a new chapter towards Africa’s total sovereignty.

On this occasion, President Joshua Osih actively participated in the official opening ceremony, including the symbolic ribbon – cutting on 11^th April 2025. He received from his Ivorian peers the symbolic blessing to carry forward the flame of Pan – Africanism in Cameroon, and proudly represented the African Left in the upcoming October 2025 Presidential Election in Cameroon.

Warmly received by President Laurent Gbagbo, the two parties engaged in fruitful discussions on their shared vision for a united, sovereign Africa – free from the chains of neo – colonialism and firmly committed to social justice, genuine democracy and inclusive development.

The delegation led by Chairman Joshua Osih, left Abidjan on the 13^th of April 2025, inspired and galvanized by this fraternal experience, more determined than ever to carry the torch of political and economic liberation in Cameroon with strength and conviction.

The SDF which currently coordinates the activities of the Progressive Alliance in Africa through its National Chairman reaffirms its unwavering commitment, to work alongside African progressive forces in building a free, strong and united Africa – an Africa of the people.