Judicial authorities in Côte d’Ivoire have provisionally released 14 former aides to deposed president Laurent Gbagbo. The officials have been awaiting trial over war crimes and human rights abuses.
The UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) has welcomed the decision. Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNOCI, Aïchatou Mindaoudou said:
“This development will bring about peace between all Ivorian political actors. It contributes to the pursuit for equal justice and is a good sign for a national dialogue that is truly republican, as part of the search for lasting reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire.”
A statement from the justice ministry read out on state television reads: “They are only being freed on bail, the proceedings leading up to the verdicts are in progress and will most likely be concluded by year’s end.”
Laurent Gbagbo was ousted in April 2011 after a deadly four-month crisis sparked by his refusal to concede electoral defeat to Alassane Ouattara, who was eventually sworn in a month later. The former president was arrested and later transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where he faces four counts of crimes against humanity over the violence.
Among those granted bail on Monday (August 5) are Gbagbo’s son Michel, a French-born 43-year-old dual national. Gbagbo’s wife Simone is still being detained in Côte d’Ivoire and faces trial over her involvement in the violence, which left an estimated 3,000 people dead. The ICC also has a warrant against her, but the Ivorian authorities have not yet given a formal reply. Eight other close aides of the ousted president were already released on bail late last year
UNOCI was established in 2004 by the Security Council to facilitate the peace process between the rebel-held north and Government-controlled south following the 2002 civil war.
