“Before the start of the discussions, it is essential to restore serenity and confidence between all the actors by acts of appeasement including the end of the legal proceedings against all the leaders of the opposition”, indicated the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) and the Front populaire ivoirien (FPI) in a joint statement. This is proof that although the meeting between Presidents Ouattara and Bédié “broke the ice” bringing down the tension, it did not weaken the opposition’s determination not to trade in a weak position.
Opposition calls for talks led by facilitator
The PDCI, led by Mr. Bédié, and the FPI, founded by ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, demand “the end of all legal proceedings against the leaders and activists of the opposition and civil society”, “the lifting of the blockade around the residences of all the leaders of the opposition political parties ”,“ the release of all political prisoners ”as well as“ the return of exiles ”, according to this statement quoted by AFP. Among the exiles are Laurent Gbagbo, the former leader of the rebellion and former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and the former leader of the Young Patriots (pro-Gbagbo movement) Charles Blé Goudé. The two parties also demand that the talks with the authorities of President Alassane Ouattara “be conducted under the aegis of a facilitator”. It should be noted that since August, 85 people have lost their lives and nearly 500 have been injured.
As a reminder, the opposition is contesting the re-election of Mr. Ouattara for a third term, which it considers unconstitutional. Charles Blé Goudé also said in a statement that he had addressed by telephone to Mr. Bédié his “congratulations on his commitment to restore peace” in Côte d’Ivoire. Guillaume Soro, who launched from abroad a call for a general insurrection in Côte d’Ivoire after the re-election of Alassane Ouattara, was promised by the latter “life imprisonment”.
Various legal situations
The Ivorian justice has launched prosecutions for “conspiracy against state security” against several opposition leaders, accusing them of being responsible for deadly violence as part of their campaign of “civil disobedience” against the election. presidential election that they boycotted, and of having wanted to install a “transitional” regime chaired by Mr. Bédié. MM. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé were acquitted at first instance of crimes against humanity, during the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011, by the International Criminal Court, and are awaiting a possible appeal, the first in Brussels, the second in La Hague. The return of Mr. Gbagbo is eagerly awaited by his supporters. In the meantime, the fear of an escalation of violence remains present in Côte d’Ivoire, ten years after the post-electoral crisis of 2010-11 which left 3,000 dead, as well as 300,000 refugees and a million internally displaced persons in Côte d ‘Ivory, according to the UN.
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