Cote d’Ivoire former president, Laurent Gbagbo has called on President Alassane Ouattara to set free all political prisoners, because the International Criminal Court (ICC) set him (Mr. Gbagbo) free for his alleged crimes against humanity.
The long hour closed-door face-to-face discussion between two Ivorian key politicians took place at the executive mansion on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 in Abidjan ten (10) years after the post-election crisis in the country.
Last week, the spokesperson of the Ivorian government announced about President Alassane Ouattara and former president Laurent Gbagbo face-to-face since the end of the political conflict of 2010 and 2011.
At the end of their closed-door meeting, the former head of state, Laurent Gbagbo insisted the urgent need regarding the freedom of all political prisoners who have been detained throughout the country since 2010.
“All political prisoners need to be freed; president Ouattara has the power or means to do so”.
“I came to visit President Alassane Ouattara whom I have known for a long time, we spoke fraternally, amicably,
I am very happy with this discussion that we had because it was very relaxed, and I am proud of it”.
“I wished that from time to time we could have this kind of talks that relax the atmosphere in the country, as far as I am concerned, I have focused on the prisoners who were arrested during the crisis of 2010-2011 and who are still in prison”.
“So I said to the president and you will agree with me, since I was their leader and I am free, that he does everything he can so that they too regain their freedom”.
“The president has the means and the opportunities to do so,
we also talked about Cote d’Ivoire which must move forward, which we must talk to each other, which we must discuss, isn’t it Alassane” (Laughs), forgive me, isn’t it Mr. President of the Republic ?, Declared Laurent Gbagbo.
For his part, President Alassane Ouattara, he insisted on reconciliation and trust between Ivoirians.
“My dear Laurent, thank you very much for coming for this meeting that everyone was asking for, people don’t know that we’ve talked to each other and have been friends for decades”. “However, the schedules and the opportunities have led us to have this meeting today; I must say that I am delighted, I believe that it was all the people of Côte d’Ivoire who were looking forward to this with great impatience”.
“Now it is done and I would like for us to congratulate ourselves on having had this meeting which was cordial and fraternal because, Laurent is my young brother, he is my friend, of course, this crisis has created differences, but this is all behind us”.
“What matters is Ivory Coast; it is peace for our country,
it is time to move forward, to move forward for ourselves and for the next generations”.
“I would like to reiterate my condolences to my brother on the death of his mother and Abrahamane Sangaré both left while he was away from the territory, I told him that we have a thought for them and we will continue to pray that they rest in peace,” the Ivorian head of state maintains
“When I lost my mother while in exile, Laurent Gbagbo facilitated my return so that I could return and take care of the funeral,
It is something I cannot forget, we spoke of peace for our country, and the need to strengthen national cohesion, to continue to strengthen national reconciliation, we have agreed to meet again from time to time,” he concludes.
Mr. Gbagbo was acquitted on March 31, 2021 by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for crimes against humanity perpetrated during the post-election violence of 2010-2011.
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