Nearly 10 years after former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo was arrested on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity following presidential elections, he has returned, a free man, to celebrations on the streets of Abidjan.
Gbagbo, 76, greeted supporters who came out at the airport and on the streets of the economic capital to celebrate his return. The former president, in power from 2000 to 2011, was acquitted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier this year.
Abidjan was under heavy security in anticipation of his arrival, and some eyewitnesses said some crowds were repelled by teargas launched by security forces as they tried to approach the airport.
Gbagbo was accused of being behind the deaths of some 3,000 people who were killed in post-election violence in the months following the 2010 election. He refused to step down after the electoral commission named his rival Alassane Ouattara the victor.
“Glad to return to Ivory Coast and Africa," Gbagbo reportedly told supporters of Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party upon his return.
2024 election will be decided on the grounds of the economy; choice of running m...
Dumsor: We're demanding less; just give us a timetable — Kwesi Pratt to ECG
Do I have to apologise for doing my security work, I won’t – Simon Osei-Mensah r...
Prestea and Bogoso mines: Complete payment of outstanding salaries not later tha...
NDC postpones Prof. Opoku-Agyemang entry tour to May
All my businesses have collapsed under Akufo-Addo — NDC Central regional chair
Military, Prison Officers clash in Bawku, three injured
GRA-SML contract: MFWA files RTI request demanding KPMG report
Court threatens to call second accused to testify if NDC's Ofosu Ampofo fails to...
Family accuses hospital of medical negligence, extortion in death of 17-year-old...
