The Court of Appeal of Abidjan, in Côte d’Ivoire, confirmed on Monday the life sentence pronounced at first instance against former Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, for « undermining state security ».
Exiled in France for a few years, this former president of the National Assembly is facing justice for facts that date back to 2007 and 2019.
The court also ruled on the case of 11 of his co-defendants. He confirmed the convictions of nine of them, for « conspiracy » and « attempt to attack the authority of the State ». Among them are Souleymane Kamagaté, former chief of protocol for Soro, and Jean-Baptiste Kouamé Kassé, former head of his close guard, who had been sentenced to 20 years in prison at first instance.
The Court acquitted two co-defendants, notably Félicien Sékongo and Alain Lobognon. It also dissolved Guillaume Soro’s Generations and Solidarity Peoples (GPS) party.
The defendants have fifteen days to appeal.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1046 of 14/02/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
