The announcement was made on Monday by the Pan-African Congress for Justice and Equality of Peoples (Cojep), the party of Charles Blé Goudé. A return in consultation with the Ivorian authorities.
With our correspondent in Abidjan, Bineta Diagne
At the headquarters of Cojep, a handful of activists made the trip to express their joy. ” A father who remained outside his family for eleven years… His return is an immense joy! enthuses one of them.
Finally acquitted a year and a half ago by the ICC of crimes against humanity, Charles Blé Goudé has since lived in The Hague, in the Netherlands, from where he is preparing his return to Côte d’Ivoire, after more than ten years of absence. At the end of 2019, the Ivorian justice sentenced him to 20 years in prison for his participation in the post-election crisis of 2010-11. The execution of this court decision remains pending.
Today, the conditions of his return are the subject of consultations between the Cojep and Claude Sahi Soumahoro, the chief of staff of the Ivorian president. ” There was a condemnation, but the recent past of Côte d’Ivoire shows that these are not obstacles to the reconciliation of Ivorians. Charles Blé Goudé has the assurance that he will not go to prison. The power itself has no intention of putting Charles Blé Goudé in prison. This is what is essential “, explains Dr. Patrice Saraka, Secretary General of Cojep.
On his return, Charles Blé Goudé intends to tour the country, to lead a ” caravan for peace “. A descent into the field for, according to his supporters, ” materialize his desire to advocate national reconciliation “.