RFI witnessed the reunion between Laurent Gbagbo and his supporters at a former campaign headquarters in Cocody-Attoban on Thursday, June 17. In front of a crowd that won over his cause, the former president was short in his speech, asking “to mourn” first his “dead” and to speak “later on politics”.
With our special correspondent in Abidjan, Francois Mazet
By the middle of the day, there were already dozens of guests on site, while outside the party’s security service did everything to limit intrusion. It was gratifying, a good atmosphere, the sound system played Ivorian hits and country songs full of parables in honor of Laurent Gbagbo. We sang, we danced, people smiled.
Tensions escalated as the former president landed and as the procession made its way to Cocody before reaching its peak when the vehicle entered headquarters. The night has just fallen, the time is 18:15 local time. It’s a real wave that accompanies Laurent Gbagbo in the enclosure, and it took all the solidity of the security service to prevent this crowd of young people, who had spent the day out in the sun and parties, from introducing themselves into the building.
“I am your soldier, I am mobilized”
Lots of tension at the time, palaver, insults to journalists. FPI GOR Secretary General Assoa Adou has just spoken to introduce the former president. He leaves the microphone to his friend and political leader. Outside, the audience, gathered around the building, listened to the broadcast through the crackling speakers. Laurent Gbagbo spoke. His speech is more of a message than a political discourse. Visibly tired of this long day of tension, he lets go: he can talk about politics “later”. He asked for time to “mourn his dead” and remember with emotion his mother and his friend Aboudramane Sangaré who died during his captivity. He also thanked the Ivorians and Africans for their support and still had this little sentence: “I am your soldier, I am mobilized”. Before I released a word to greet the result of the last election and his friends returned to the church and to the institutional game.
A rather short speech, a quick greeting from the balcony and the massive party order service invite the audience to empty the premises. The guests who have been present since 12 o’clock, exhausted, follow quickly. The young people stay to enjoy this historic day in their country until the end.
Relive Laurent Gbagbo’s return to the Ivory Coast
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