Laurent Gbagbo’s return is scheduled for June 17, according to his party. The former president would return after a 10-year absence after being acquitted by the ICC on March 31. Authorities did not respond on Tuesday, June 1. On the other hand, some associations of victims have done so. This is the case with the Côte d’Ivoire Victims Collective (CVCI), which is asking for Laurent Gbagbo, under a 20-year sentence in Ivorian justice, to be arrested on his return.
as reported from Abidjan, Pierre Pinto
For several weeks, Issiaka Diaby, president of the Collective of Crisis Victims in Côte d’Ivoire, has been hammering him: he wants Laurent Gbagbo imprisoned when he returns to Abidjan. The former president is in fact under a 20-year sentence in prison for the so-called “crime against BCEAO” case, which according to Issiaka Diaby served as a driving force for the 2011 war.
“Whether it is the head of state, his son or the baker’s wife, the law is the same for everyone. We fight against impunity, that everyone is responsible for their actions in the face of justice. It is a role played by the whole of civil society and especially the victims. Those who say that we are not in our position when we ask for Laurent Gbagbo to be prosecuted are really those who have benefited from the economic downturn from the division of BCEAO. “
CVCI, which repeated its call on Tuesday. “We have just heard that Laurent Gbagbo is back on the 17th. Upon his arrival we will be at the airport to act and welcome him so that he can be arrested and deposited in Maca (Abidjan Detention and Correction Center) as part of the enforcement of the court’s decision that sentences him to 20 years in prison. Now, once at Maca, he has the right to appeal, like all citizens, to use it. ”
Issiaka Diaby also hopes to be able to initiate proceedings against Laurent Gbagbo for other incidents during the 2011 crisis, not tried by the ICC, as according to him, investigations into certain unspeakable crimes have been initiated since 2013 by Ivorian justice.
“Several incidents in the Ivory Coast are currently being investigated. Including investigations in connection with the alleged and appealing facts against Laurent Gbagbo. Investigations have been ongoing since June 2013, the proceedings are open, the victims have participated, the witnesses have gone, the case is open and we ask victims and witnesses to come and participate. Those who say that the ICC has already tried and acquitted Laurent Gbagbo, we expect them in the court decision to show that Ivorian justice no longer has the right to act against Laurent Gbagbo if facts are alleged against him. There is this principle of complementarity. ”
In support of his demonstration, Issiaka Diaby cites the conviction in the absence of Charles Blé Goudé to 20 years in prison for Ivorian justice for facts other than those judged by the ICC. Charles Blé Goudé was co-accused by Laurent Gbagbo in The Hague and acquitted as he is.
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