Laurent Gbagbo returns to Abidjan this Thursday 17 June after a ten-year absence. Definitely acquitted by the International Criminal Court on March 31, will he renew the thread in a life of political strife? Back to the most important dates of his career.
February 9, 1982: The student demonstrations give the power of Félix Houphouët-Boigny to close the universities. History teacher and union, Laurent Gbagbo is the leader of the protest. He and his wife Simone created a secret movement that would become the popular front of Ivoria.
September 13, 1988: After three years of exile in France, he returned to the Ivory Coast. In November, the FPI was formed, he was its general secretary.
October 28, 1990: For the first time, Félix Houphouët-Boigny has an opponent in the presidential election. Laurent Gbagbo receives 18.3% of the votes. The following month, he was elected deputy to Ouaragahio during the first team election for several parties. FPI sends nine deputies to the congregation (out of 175).
February 18, 1992: After a demonstration, Laurent Gbagbo is arrested. He was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 300,000 CFA francs, but was amnestied and released on 31 July. Alassane Ouattara is then Prime Minister.
October 22, 1995: Henri Konan Bédié wins a locked presidential election, boycotted by Laurent Gbagbo.
October 22, 2000: Laurent Gbagbo is elected president with 59% of the vote, despite the attempt by Putschist general Robert Gueï, his unfortunate opponent, to declare himself the winner. Alassane Ouattara was again disqualified for “lack of ivoirity”.[en vertu d’une modification de la Constitution ivoirienne exigeant que les candidats à la présidence de la République soient nés de père et de mère ivoiriens d’origine et ne se soient jamais prévalus d’une autre nationalité] FPI won the team election in December, was boycotted by RDR, despite the impossibility of organizing them in several regions in the north.
September 19, 2002: After months of political tension and violence, a major mutiny turns into an uprising. Robert Gueï is murdered. On October 17, Laurent Gbagbo agreed to sign a ceasefire. The country was now cut in two between an area held by rebels in the north and an area under government control in the south.
January 24, 2003: The Marcoussis agreement, validated by France, provides for Laurent Gbagbo and an open government to remain in power. The uprising’s spokesman, Guillaume Soro, announces that the most important positions for defense and the interior go to his movement. Anti-French demonstrations begin. October 21, RFI correspondent Jean Hélène is murdered.
March 25, 2004: A banned demonstration by the opposition is suppressed. It kills 120 according to the UN.
September 27, 2005 :Laurent Gbagbo explains that the presidential election cannot be held on October 30 due to the disarmament of the rearmament and that he will remain in office after that date. Despite the Pretoria I and II agreements, the new forces refuse to support a vote, according to them, “neither free nor transparent”
March 4, 2007: After a month of negotiations, Laurent Gbagbo and Guillaume Soro sign a peace agreement in Ouagadougou. Guillaume Soro becomes Prime Minister.
October 31, 2010: Laurent Gbagbo comes first in the first round of the presidential election with 38% of the vote. Alassane Ouattara is second with 32%. He activates his alliance with Henri Konan Bédié, who finished third with 25%.
December 2, 2010: The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) announces, under circumstances questioned by supporters of Laurent Gbagbo, Alassane Ouattara winner with 54% of the second round held on 28 November. The next day, the Constitutional Council, led by relatives of the outgoing president, annuls the results in several regions in the North and gives the latter victory with 51% of the vote. The beginning of the crisis after the election. The African Union, ECOWAS and the West recognize Alassane Ouattara as the country’s president.
April 11, 2011: after weeks of fighting, a final campaign of strikes led to the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo.
November 30, 2011: Accused by the International Criminal Court, Laurent Gbagbois transferred to The Hague. He first performed on December 5.
June 12, 2014: The charges are confirmed by the ICC, Laurent Gbagbo is sent to trial. The Blé Goudé case is associated with his.
October 29, 2015:The ICC refuses to release Laurent Gbagbo to allow him to attend the funeral of his mother, who died on October 15 in Côte d’Ivoire.
January 28, 2016: Initiation of the trial of Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé
January 18, 2018: Abidjan’s Supreme Court sentences Laurent Gbagbo and three members of his last government – not recognized by the international community – to 20 years in prison and fines 329 billion CFA francs (approximately EUR 500 million) for the so-called case of “Crime by BCEAO”. The other three defendants benefited from the president’s pardon granted in August 2018 by Alassane Ouattara to more than 800 actors in the post-election crisis.
January 15, 2019: The ICC Court of Appeals acquits Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé of charges of crimes against humanity. The conditions of release force him to stay in Europe. On February 5, he joined his second wife, Nady Bamba, in Brussels. The prosecutor’s office appealed on 16 September.
March 31, 2021: The ICC Board of Appeal confirms the acquittal, travel restrictions are lifted.
April 7, 2021: Alassane Ouattara gives the green light for his former rival to return.
31 May 2021: Assoa Adou, Secretary-General of the FPI Branch Loyal to Him, Announces date June 17 for return.
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