The Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, on Saturday July 6, pardoned his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison, in Côte d’Ivoire, for “the robbery” of the Central Bank of States of West Africa (BCEAO) during the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011.
“In order to strengthen social cohesion, I signed a decree granting presidential pardon to Mr Laurent Gbagbo”, he affirmed in his speech which he delivered on the 62nd anniversary of the independence of the Ivory Coast.
Ouattara also announced that he had requested “that his accounts be unfrozen and his arrears of life annuities be paid”.
Although convicted by Ivorian justice, Gbagbo has never been arrested since his return to Côte d’Ivoire in June 2021. Detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC), he was acquitted in March 2021 of crimes against the humanity committed during the post-electoral crisis which resulted in 3,000 deaths.
While waiting for the former president to possibly express himself on the presidential pardon from which he benefited, there is reason to suppose that this measure, different from the amnesty law, could not meet his expectations, insofar as it does not guarantee his candidacy for the next presidential election in 2025.
However, if Gbagbo created his political party, the African People’s Party-Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI), his presidential ambitions are beyond doubt.
By OMA Newsletter N° 811 of 08/08/2022
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
