Ivory Coast: in Duékoué, Gbagbo pays tribute to the victims of the post-election crisis

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, current President of the African Peoples' Party - Côte d'Ivoire (PPA-CI) (illustration image) © AP - Diomande Ble Blonde

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

“Peace and reconciliation.

This is the message from Laurent Gbagbo, who is finishing a visit to Duékoué.

The city of Côte d'Ivoire welcomed Friday in a popular jubilation the former head of the Ivorian state, eleven years after the violence of the post-election crisis of 2010-2011.

At the time, the regions of western Côte d'Ivoire were particularly marked by the killings, with at least 1,000 dead according to the United Nations, including more than 800 for the city of Duékoué alone.

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With our special correspondent in Duékoué,

" 

", concluded Laurent Gbagbo, in his speech to the populations of Duékoué a few hours after having collected themselves on the mass graves of the city, in particular that of the Carrefour district, sadly famous for the killings. mass of 2011.

Thousands of residents, joined by residents from neighboring towns, received the one they still call "their leader" with great joy, to the point of overflowing the security service at times. 

A festive atmosphere, but also a lot of emotion, because many people who lost loved ones during the post-election crisis were also present.

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Accompanied by his wife Nady Bamba and figures from his new PPA-CI party, Laurent Gbagbo laid a wreath of flowers at the foot of a commemorative stele.

A place which owes nothing to chance: it is under this stele that one of the most important mass graves of Duékoué is located.

The residents of the neighborhood have repeated it a lot: the presence of the former head of state helps them heal their wounds. 

The city in western Côte d'Ivoire is often described as a “martyr” because of the 817 people murdered on March 28 and 29, 2011, mainly from the Guéré ethnic group, considered favorable to the Gbagbo camp.

Killings caused following the offensive of the rebel forces supporting the current head of state Alassane Ouattara. 

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• Ivory Coast

• Laurent Gbagbo