Gbagbo and Blé Goudé's conditions of freedom eased: their supporters hopeful

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The former president of Côte d'Ivoire and his former youth minister are now free to move. The decision was made on Thursday by the International Criminal Court, pending their trial on appeal for crimes against humanity. A decision that raises a lot of hope among the supporters of the two men, five months from the Ivorian presidential election.

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The former president of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, is therefore authorized to leave Belgium , where he has been under house arrest since January 2019. The same goes for his former Minister of Youth, Charles Blé Goudé, currently in the Netherlands. Low. The International Criminal Court relaxed the conditions for the release of the two men. They no longer have the obligation to surrender their passports to the ICC. A decision made pending their appeal trial for crimes against humanity, committed during the Ivorian crisis of 2010-2011.

This relaxation of restrictions on parole by Laurent Gbagbo delights Laurent Akoun, vice-president of the pro-Gbagbo FPI  : “  We were extremely happy that he could come and go where he is and then until 'he comes home. What we expect is his return, we still hope. We will notify this with the authorities, they will be approached through official channels.  "

A lightening decision in which Laurent Akoun no longer believed: "  We had even given up hope, because without being a lawyer from the point of view of strict law, we cannot be acquitted and be subject to conditions, we were in a hurry, c 'well we are moving forward.  "

" Their presence will be welcome "

Relatives and supporters of Laurent Gbagbo are therefore satisfied with this decision by the ICC. Satisfaction also of Cojep, the Pan-African Congress for Justice and Equality of Peoples, the party of Charles Blé Goudé. Its secretary general, Patrice Saraka, is now awaiting the return of the two politicians.

"  This is something that we have been waiting for a long time and when these restrictions were imposed, it was not very well received, so for us it is the normal order of things. We expected this, we wanted it, we are delighted. Presidents Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé have been awaited in Côte d'Ivoire for a very long time by all Ivorians, all political trends combined because in reality all these Ivorians need peace and reconciliation, and we all know that Charles Blé Goudé and President Laurent Gbagbo are actors of peace and reconciliation, Côte d'Ivoire needs it most their presence will be welcome. I think that the Ivorian authorities are very well aware that Côte d'Ivoire today needs a rally, it needs unity, it needs reconciliation and that it could not go against the will of the vast majority Ivorians including even certain actors in power.  "

The two men can now go and live in one of the 134 States parties to the Rome Statute and therefore in Côte d'Ivoire, provided, however, that the authorities of the country agree to receive them.

I welcome the decision and hope that it will truly contribute to bringing about real reconciliation.

Reaction in Abidjan in the historically pro-Gbagbo Blockhauss district

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• Ivory Coast
• Laurent Gbagbo
• Gbagbo trial
• Charles Blé Goudé
• International justice
• Justice

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