The former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo, is waiting to be pardoned in the so-called case of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). A case for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a fine estimated at FCFA 329 billion, or 500 million euros. Cleared by the International Criminal Court, Laurent Gbagbo hopes to be pardoned as is the case with his co-defendants: Prime Minister Gilbert Aké N’Gbo, Finance Minister Désiré Diallo, and Budget Minister Justin Koné Katinan.
The former Ivorian head of state between 2000 and 2011, Laurent Gbagbo, is counting on an amnesty to permanently bury his legal problems that were the direct consequences of the post-electoral crisis in 2010. Acquitted of charges of crimes against humanity by the ICC on 31 March 2021, he is prosecuted for ransacking the Bceao. The case, which was considered a state scandal, led to the opening of the Bceao coffers during the post-election crisis between 2010 and 2011. Laurent Gbagbo and three of his ministers Gilbert Aké N’Gbo, Désiré Diallo and Justin Koné Katinan were accused of being behind these events.
The current President of the Republic, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, granted amnesty on Monday, August 6, 2018, nearly 800 people detained as part of the post-election clashes. However, this favour does not apply to military and armed groups detained for blood crimes. Nor does it concern the former Ivorian head of state, Laurent Gbagbo. His relatives hope that the amnesty will be extended to allow the 76-year-old to return home to enjoy his presidential retreat. The government would take a courageous step by extending amnesty,” said Mathurin Dirabo, lawyer for Laurent Gbagbo and his co-defendants.
While waiting to see this amnesty materialize, Laurent Gbagbo has planned to return to Côte d’Ivoire on 17 June 2021 after more than ten years of absence. I am announcing that President Laurent Gbagbo’s return to the land of Côte d’Ivoire is scheduled for June 17,» announced Assoa Adou, Secretary General of the Ivorian People’s Front, the party founded by the former Ivorian head of state.
