Laurent Gbagbo, President of the African Peoples' Party – Ivory Coast (PPACI), has urged the Ivorian government to make efforts towards providing the National Identity Card (CNI) free of charge. He made this appeal during a rally held on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at Bonoua's Amangoua Kadjo Square, located 55.7 kilometers from Abidjan.

Gbagbo emphasized that during his presidency, the issuance of Ivorian nationality documents was free. He argued that in a country where poverty rates remain high, it is unjustifiable for citizens to pay for their citizenship rights. "It is not normal for the population to bear the cost of obtaining their citizenship," he insisted.

This call for free CNIs echoes similar sentiments expressed previously. In June 2019, MP Alain Lobognon proposed an amendment seeking government action towards waiving fees for the National Identity Card. However, this amendment was collectively rejected by members of the RHDP parliamentary group.

Gbagbo's stance underscores ongoing debates over accessibility to essential citizenship documents in Ivory Coast.