Six allies of Ivory Coast former President Laurent Gbagbo have returned home from 10 years in exile.
They had fled the country in the aftermath of a bloody five-month conflict that erupted when Mr Gbagbo refused to step down despite losing the presidential run-off in 2010 to Alassane Ouattara.
According to the BBC, the six arrived in Abidjan on a flight from the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
The three most well-known among them are Justin Koné Katinan, spokesman for the former president Damana Pickass, a former member of electoral commission, remembered for tearing up the results of the 2010 presidential election on camera and Jeanette Koudou, Mr Gbagbo’s younger sister.
President Ouattara, who won a controversial third term in office last year, had urged their return.
He has also said that Mr Gbagbo is free to return to the country after he was acquitted of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The acquittal of his ally, former youth leader Charles Blé Goudé – accused of leading a militia backing him – was also upheld by The Hague-based war crimes court last month.
No precise date has been set yet for their homecoming.
Their return comes amid recent alleged assailants attack on the military barracks near the capital Abidjan.
Liberian assailants
Three men believed to be Liberians were shot and killed in the capital city of Ivory Coast, Abidjan, after they reportedly attacked a military base.
Arms and ammunition, machetes, Liberian passport and identity cards, driver’s license, were retrieved from the men who are now believed to be mercenaries hired to topple the Alassane Ouattara government.
The incident reportedly occurred at the early hour of Thursday April 22.
According to reports, the Ivorian government has launched an investigation into the attack.
Sources in the Ivory Coast believe that the men were paid up to US$5,000 to cause distraction for the government. On the other hand, it is believed that the men were armed robbers.
Meanwhile several Liberian suspected of being mercenaries who were arrested have been released to their families.
No further details were given for their release.
