Guillaume Soro was sentenced to life in prison by Abidjan’s criminal court. The former president of the National Assembly and 19 of his relatives were charged in particular with trying to undermine state authority and conspiracy, spread false news and disrupt public order. 14 defendants were in the box. The others, including Guillaume Soro, were tried in absentia. The court followed the prosecutor’s requisitions.
as reported from Abidjan, Pierre Pinto
Life imprisonment for Guillaume Soro, 20 years for his lawyer Affoussy Bamba, also in exile. Another 20 years for his chief of the Soul to Soul protocol and the soldiers of his close guard, convicted of attempting to attack state authority and conspiracy, and who appeared during this trial which began on 19 May.
The regime accused them of inciting an uprising against the authorities. Alain Lobognon was convicted of holding a press conference on December 23, 2019, when Guillaume Soros’ plane was to land in Abidjan. The former minister and former deputy is sentenced to 17 months in prison for disturbing public order. Just like the two brothers, Simon and Rigobert Soro. All three served 18 months in custody. They are therefore free.
The court also ordered the dissolution of the Generations and Solidarity Peoples (GPS), Guillaume Soros’ political movement. The 20 defendants are also obliged to pay a total of one billion FCFA in damages. Defense lawyers who at the end of the hearing condemned a political trial announced that they intended to appeal.
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