By RFIPosted on 25-12-2019Changed on 25-12-2019 at 23:50

In Côte d'Ivoire, the arrest warrant issued on Monday 23 December against ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, as well as his aborted return to Abidjan, have provoked often outraged reactions from the opposition parties.

In a press release, the Coalition for Democracy, Reconciliation and Peace (CDRP) platform, led by ex-President Henri Konan Bédié , protests against the " dictatorial excesses " of Ivorian power following the arrest warrant and on Guillaume Soro's aborted return to Abidjan.

The parliamentary groups PDCI-RDA (Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire) condemn for their " umpteenth violation of parliamentary immunity in Côte d'Ivoire ", following the arrest of five deputies from the Soro camp. For its part, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) denounces the use of force against the supporters of the former president of the National Assembly.

" We believe that freedoms like the freedom to come together, or the freedom to come and go, are fundamental freedoms that deserve to be respected, " said Issiaka Sangaré, secretary general and spokesperson for the FPI.

" That said, regarding the form, the international arrest warrant was implemented the same day," he continues. There was therefore a concomitance between the return and the issuance of the arrest warrant. The authorities believe that there is a set of facts which can justify this. There is therefore a serious presumption, as the public prosecutor said. And they are within their rights, as an authority, to implement such a procedure. "

" But we at the FPI are of the opinion that in this pre-electoral environment, situations which could lead to confusion must be avoided," adds Issiaka Sangaré. If the warrant had been issued before, we could have understood. It's the concomitance that bothers us. But beyond that, we await the consequences of this procedure. "

Among the supporters of Charles Blé Goudé , they say they regret " the decline in individual freedoms and the lack of democracy " in Côte d'Ivoire.

Camp Soro dismisses accusations

Me Affoussy Bamba, one of Guillaume Soro's lawyers, spoke on Wednesday evening December 25 on Facebook. She took over the charges issued against her client by the Ivorian regime and denounced the use of justice for political purposes.

" Regarding the spurious accusation of destabilization which would be based on an audio recording, Guillaume Kigbafori Soro wishes to reassure the Ivorians : he recognizes only one destabilization, that of September 19 , 2002 on behalf of the current President of the Republic, Alassane Dramane Ouattara. This is why he continues to ask forgiveness from the sovereign people of Côte d'Ivoire. "

The former spokesperson for the Forces Nouvelles also returned to the charges of embezzlement of public funds. In particular concerning the house of Guillaume Soro, bought through an SCI in 2008, when he was Prime Minister of Laurent Gbagbo. This house was sealed this Wednesday afternoon. " It is therefore appropriate to invite Alassane Ouattara to demonstrate the same clarity and clarity regarding certain financial operations of the Treasury on his behalf, for the equivalent period. "

From Barcelona, ​​the former Minister of Communication castigated an unfounded mandate for political use only, which has still not been revealed by the courts. The public prosecutor is due to give a press conference this Thursday at 3 p.m.

► Read also: Côte d'Ivoire: Guillaume Soro denounces an “authoritarian drift” of power

    On the same subject

    Ivory Coast: Henri Konan Bédié, ready for "revenge"? (2/2)

    Pursued by justice in Ivory Coast, Guillaume Soro heads for Paris

    Ivory Coast: fighting child labor (1/2)

    Ivory Coast: the PDCI-FPI joint meeting postponed

    Côte d'Ivoire: security and stability at the heart of Macron's visit

    Côte d'Ivoire: opening of the trial of Mr. Blé Goudé for crimes against humanity

    Ivory Coast: Guillaume Soro denounces an “authoritarian drift” of power

    comments