At the end of a trial which began on May 19, life imprisonment was requested by the prosecutor Richard Adou, Wednesday June 16, before the criminal court of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) against the former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, "for attacking national security".

Mr. Soro and nineteen of his supporters are accused of "conspiracy", "attempt to attack the authority of the state" as well as "dissemination and publication of false news discrediting the institutions and their functioning , resulting in an attack on the morale of the populations ".

Twenty years in prison were required against Souleymane Kamagaté said Soul to Soul, former chief of protocol of Guillaume Soro.

The same requisitions were made against his lawyer and former minister Affoussy Bamba, and against his communications manager Toure Moussa, both in exile.

The prosecution also asked for 17 months in prison for "disturbing public order" for seven soldiers, former minister Alain Lobognon, considered his right-hand man, and Simon Soro, younger brother of Guillaume Soro.

A "political" trial, according to the lawyer for the accused

The prosecutor called for "the dissolution" of Generations and Solidarity Peoples (GPS) "because this political movement (created by Guillaume Soro) engages in subversive acts".

"There are many plots, perjury, too many crimes in this case" denounced, for his part, Me Souleymane Diallo, the lawyer for most of the accused, in his plea.

"The dissolution of the GPS requested by the prosecutor shows the political nature of the trial. Because it is not up to the criminal judge to pronounce the dissolution of an association. There is no conspiracy, no attack on the authority of the State ", assured Me Diallo, pleading" the pure and simple release "of his clients.

Former leader of the rebellion of the 2000s, Guillaume Soro, 49, who has lived in exile for two years, is tried in absentia, like five of his supporters.

The defendants have denied all charges.

Already sentenced to 20 years in prison

After a tense presidential election in October 2020, Côte d'Ivoire has been going through a period of political detente for several months, with discussions between the government and the two main opposition parties, and the release of opponents.

But Guillaume Soro and his supporters remain in the sights of the authorities and seem marginalized.

In April 2020, Mr. Soro was sentenced to 20 years in prison for concealment of embezzlement of public funds, for having tried to appropriate, according to justice, a residence purchased by the State to house him when he was Prime Minister. minister.

This conviction had justified the invalidation of his presidential candidacy, while he was seen as a serious challenger.

With AFP

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