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That they had been in exile in neighboring Ghana for the reason that fall of the previous Ivorian president in April 2011. These embrace, amongst others, the spokesman and sister of the previous head of state. At Abidjan’s airport, they had been met by loads of cheering supporters.
as reported from Abidjan, Sidy Yansane
Six supporters of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, together with former leaders of his social gathering, landed in Abidjan on Friday from Ghana beneath the auspices of the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in settlement with the Ivorian authorities, within the identify of “nationwide reconciliation” .
They had been 100 sympathizers of the FPI for making the journey to Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Airport in Abidjan to triumphantly welcome their leaders. Greater than two hours of ready within the solar within the airport car parking zone, stamped with impatience, earlier than we see all of them present up, particularly Jeannette Koudou, Laurent Gbgabo’s sister, and even the later spokeswoman, Justin Koné Katinan who triumphantly raised his fist, for the activists to let the enjoyment explode.
“We would like to maneuver rapidly in the direction of reconciliation and peace for our nation, that’s what pursuits us most,” assures one in every of them. “We’re comfortable and we thank the federal government. Gbgabo additionally took half on this return with the only intention of reconciling our stunning Ivory Coast, provides one other.
► Learn additionally: Jeannette Koudou, sister of Laurent Gbagbo: “No aggrge resides in us”
However barely out of the airport corridor, the now ex-refugees stepped immediately right into a automobile, in accordance with the rules from the police who had been current in numbers, thus abandoning the supporters dissatisfied that that they had not been in a position to supply them a stroll.
As a result of the true reunion lastly occurred within the dwelling of the deceased Aboudramane Sangaré, shut among the many family members of Laurent Gbagbo, who died at the top of 2018. Residence that’s now the seat of the FPI’s edge, referred to as “Gor”: “Gbagbo or nothing”. Even there, the activists got here in giant numbers, some from cities in the inside of the nation even insisted on making the journey for the occasion.
In flip, the exiles took the ground, together with Damana Adia Pikass, Vice-President of the Youth-Accountable FPI, who known as for mobilization to welcome President Laurent Gbagbo quickly.
“The President requested us to return to Côte d’Ivoire in order that, along with all of the comrades who’re right here, who stored the social gathering alive in a hostile atmosphere – and that is the end result we see there – and a residing nation, a proud nation, a conquering nation. . “
Additionally observe the presence of Simone Gbagbo, the previous first woman, who has been discreet since her launch in 2018 and who expressed a couple of phrases of sympathy to her friends.
The return of those refugees precedes the one anticipated by Laurent Gbagbo himself, after his acquittal on March 31 of worldwide justice for crimes dedicated in opposition to humanity dedicated throughout this disaster.
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