President Alassane Ouattara pardoned this Thursday, February 22, 51 personalities convicted of bloody crimes during the crises that shook the country. This grace comes in a context of national cohesion, following the coronation of the Elephants at the 34th African Cup of Nations.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan, Bineta Diagne
It is in a solemn declaration, delivered Thursday evening at the end of a National Security Council, that Fidèle Sarassoro, the executive secretary of the National Security Council, drew up a positive assessment of the system of the CAN. The Ivorian president urges his team to continue “ the spirit of cohesion “, he said. On this momentum, the Head of State pardoned 51 personalities convicted during the crises which shook the country.
“ The President of the Republic, in accordance with his commitment to work resolutely to consolidate peace in our country, informed the National Security Council of his decision to grant presidential pardon to civilian and military persons convicted of offenses committed during post-electoral crises and for undermining state security. Among these people are Mr. Dogbo Blé Bruno, Mr. Gnatoa Katet Paulin, Mr. Katé Kouamé Jean-Baptiste and Mr. Kamagaté Souleymane », Listed Fidèle Sarassoro.
To these are added six personalities who should benefit from provisional release.
The executive secretary of the CNS finally announced that a memorial in tribute “ to the serious crises that the country has experienced » will soon be erected. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister received the victims’ associations to express his “ compassion ” and the ” urge forgiveness “. Reacting to these pardons, the Ivorian Human Rights Movement (MIDH) continues to demand reparations. “ We cannot write off everything that these victims suffered. It is true that these are measures which go in the direction of reconciliation, in the direction of appeasement. But we must not forget the victims », Estimates Bamba Drissa, the president of the MIDH.
Since his return to Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo had made the release of civilian and military prisoners a point of discussion. However, most of the personalities listed by the PPA-CI have been pardoned. This is an important step which now makes it possible to relaunch a political dialogue, believes Jean Gervais Tcheïdé, the secretary general of the party, deputy spokesperson for the PPA-CI: “ If today, after two years and a few months of pleadings, we are heard, and we can only welcome the release of General Dogbo Blé and all the others. Now, the national reconciliation process is first and foremost the government’s initiative and we have always been willing to discuss to resolve all the disputes of the post-electoral crisis. We are waiting for us to meet again to go to peaceful elections in 2025. »