Charles Blé Goudé: "Whether I am in Côte d'Ivoire or not, my voice will count"

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Text by: Stéphanie Maupas Follow

In an interview with RFI, Charles Blé Goudé reviews the decision rendered Thursday by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the upcoming presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire.

Publicity

“  I am Ivorian. I am here [in The Hague, the Netherlands] for a known reason, of a judicial nature. If the institution which at one time considered that charges were laid against me in relation to a crisis that my country had experienced, and that that institution gives me freedom of movement, my primary destination should be where my umbilical cord was cut, that is to say in Ivory Coast  ", explained Charles Blé Goudé.

The ICC decision on Thursday to ease the conditions for the release of Charles Blé Goudé and Laurent Gbagbo allows them to return to Côte d'Ivoire, as both wish. But it nevertheless requires that the State on whose territory they go agrees to receive them. “  Alas, between the desirable and the possible, there is a hiatus, explains Charles Blé Goudé. It now depends, it is clear, on the will of the authorities of my country. My will is to go home, close to mine, close to the Ivorians, close to my parents, so that I go to bow to the tomb of my father, my brothers who died, friends who died while I was not there. Then, of course, take part in the political debate, in the political life of my country because I am a political leader.  "

Not a presidential candidate

In December 2019, an Abidjan court sentenced Charles Blé Goudé to 20 years in prison in absentia, for "acts of torture, homicide and rape".

“  In all cases, whether the 20-year sentence was issued or not, I would have been even out of elegance, I would have been out of duty, obliged to speak to the authorities in my country. When you want to go to a village from which you have been absent for more than nine years, elegance and politeness, require that you speak, that you speak with the authorities of that country. When we want to go to a village, we speak with the village chief to say that we will come. Côte d'Ivoire has changed politically, it has changed socially, behind me it is no longer the same, it is a fact. I must first speak with the authorities at home, so that I can go home, if they will allow me.  "

The decision taken by the ICC on Thursday did not change the opinion of Charles Blé Goudé on the presidential election of October 2020. He recalls that he is not a candidate for this deadline.

"  So that I can present a candidacy, I must return to Ivory Coast and better, I said, I am loyal to Laurent Gbagbo  " he specifies, recalling that he will not commit until the former president decides whether to run or not. “  My candidacy is not one on the agenda. That said, I have a political party. The Cojep [chaired by Charles Blé Goudé] has executives, who will certainly participate in the local elections in Côte d'Ivoire. Regarding the presidential, given that President Laurent Gbagbo has not yet made any decision, I will not venture on this ground.  "

But Charles Blé Goudé adds: “  Whether I am in Ivory Coast or not, my voice will count during the 2020 elections. I am not a candidate, but this election interests me in more ways than one. It is a question of choosing the personality who will decide the future of my country for the next five years.  To conclude, Charles Blé Goudé invited the Ivorians to register on the electoral lists.  

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