🔴 Ivory Coast: Alassane Ouattara grants presidential pardon to former President Laurent Gbagbo

Published on: 08/06/2022 – 22:50Modified on: 08/06/2022 – 23:11 Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara announced on Saturday that he had granted his pardon to his predecessor and former rival Laurent Gbagbo, under the blow of a sentenced to 20 years in prison in his country following the post-election crisis of 2010-2011. An announcement that was expected after several reconciliation efforts between the Head of State and his predecessors. Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara announced on Saturday August 6 that he had granted presidential pardon to his former rival and predecessor Laurent Gbagbo, “in order to strengthen social cohesion”. The latter was under a 20-year prison sentence in his country following the post-election crisis of 2010-2011.” In order to strengthen social cohesion, I signed a decree granting the presidential pardon to Mr. Laurent Gbagbo,” said Alassane Ouattara in a speech on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the independence of Côte d’Ivoire. In order to strengthen social cohesion, I signed a decree granting presidential pardon to Mr. Laurent Gbagbo. I also requested that his accounts be unfrozen and his life annuity arrears be paid. pic.twitter.com/HbV80zwsU0— Alassane Ouattara (@AOuattara_PRCI) August 6, 2022 The two former rivals had already met for the first time on July 14, 2022, during a “reunion meeting” with Henri Konan Bédié, also former president. During the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011, the presidential duel between Laurent Gbabgbo and Alassane Ouattara, then supported by Mr. Bédié, led to a post-electoral crisis which left 3,000 dead and led to the arrest of Mr. Gbagbo in April 2011. Acquitted by international justice, he returned to Abidjan in June 2021 and launched a new opposition party. In 2020, electoral violence during the presidential election caused 85 dead and 500 injured. The election, boycotted in particular by Mr. Bédié, saw the re-election of President Ouattara for a controversial third term, deemed unconstitutional by the opposition. With AFP