DR Congo: former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo on a “private visit” to Kinshasa

Published on : 07/03/2021 – 12:19

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo arrived in Kinshasa on Friday, July 2, for a “private visit”, the first trip outside the borders of Côte d’Ivoire, since his return to the country on June 17, after ten years spent at the International Criminal Court. Laurent Gbagbo’s stay in the Democratic Republic of the Congo responds to the invitation of former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba.

Laurent Gbagbo had recently declared to have befriended, during his detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC), with Jean-Pierre Bemba, ex-warlord.

The two men, prosecuted in particular for crimes against humanity, one for his role during the post-electoral violence in Côte d’Ivoire in 2010-2011, the other for the incursions of his troops in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003 , spent several years behind bars at the ICC in the Netherlands.

They were both convicted at first instance and then acquitted on appeal by international justice.

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“President Gbagbo arrived in Kinshasa today, through Ndjili international airport. He spoke with Jean-Pierre Bemba, who is his host, as part of a strictly private visit,” he told AFP a close friend of Jean-Pierre Bemba.

Laurent Gbagbo, whose visit is “supported by state protocol, (Congolese) will attend the wedding of Jean-Pierre Bemba’s son” this weekend, added this source on condition of anonymity.

Returning to Abidjan on June 17, Laurent Gbagbo is making his first trip abroad. His return to Côte d’Ivoire is scheduled for Thursday, July 8, according to a statement from the ex-president’s cabinet released on Wednesday.

With AFP