Ivorian presidential election: the ACHPR orders the re-registration of Soro on the electoral list

Guilluame Soro, pictured on February 8, 2019 in Abidjan.

Sia KAMBOO / AFP

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3 min

46 days before the presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) asked Abidjan to "suspend the execution" of the sentence of Guillaume Soro, and to restore it. on the voters list.

The president of the GPS party, exiled in France for several months, saw his candidacy invalidated Monday evening by the Constitutional Council.

Invalidation due to his removal from the electoral list due to a conviction.

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With our correspondent in Abidjan,

Pierre Pinto

In a previous order of April 22, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights had asked Côte d'Ivoire to temporarily suspend the arrest warrant against

Guillaume Soro

and to release his 19 imprisoned companions. .

Provisional decision while waiting for their case to be examined on the merits by this same court.

The decision was never executed by Côte d'Ivoire.

On April 28, the Ivorian justice even condemned Guillaume Soro for concealment of embezzlement of public funds to

20 years in prison

and the deprivation of his civil and political rights.

Consequence: Guillaume Soro was struck off the electoral lists.

Reason for the invalidation of his candidacy by the Constitutional Council on Monday.

Dead letter ...

This Tuesday, September 15, new order of the African Court.

It orders Côte d'Ivoire to suspend this sentence and " 

take all necessary measures to immediately remove all obstacles preventing Guillaume Soro from enjoying his rights to elect and be elected

 ".

Clearly, to re-register him on the electoral list and allow him to be a candidate.

Like the ordinance of April 22, this could once again remain a dead letter.

On the day of Soro's conviction, Côte d'Ivoire formally decided to no longer recognize the jurisdiction of the African Court.

And a sign of the interest the Ivorian State has in the Court, its lawyers have not made any observation or conclusion in this procedure.

When the judges are not corrupt like those in my country, they say the law and give it back its nobility.

The judges of the African Court have ruled.

Therefore I reaffirm my candidacy for the presidential election of October 2020 in my country.

Read 👇🏿👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/P4RuLXeEAt

  Guillaume K. Soro (@SOROKGUILLAUME) September 15, 2020

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  • Ivory Coast

  • Guillaume Soro