APA-Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) Kone Kamarate Souleymane, also known as ‘Soul to Soul ‘, formerly in charge of Guillaume Soro’s protocol when he was Cote d’Ivoire’s National Assembly Speaker, is one of the beneficiaries of this presidential pardon.
The Head of State, Alassane Ouattara, took this decision on Thursday 22 February 2024, at a meeting of the National Security Council, held at the Office of the President of the Republic, to discuss the general security situation in the country and the security results of the 2023 African Cup of Nations.
He praised the spirit of fraternity, unity and cohesion shown by the Ivorian people during this competition. In this context, and in keeping with his commitment to work towards consolidating peace in the country, he granted a presidential pardon to civilian and military personnel.
According to the press release issued by the National Security Council, chaired by President Alassane Ouattara, these are people who have been “convicted of offences committed during the post-electoral crises or attacks on State security.”
They include General Brunot Dogbo Ble, the former commander of the Republican Guard under Laurent Gbagbo, Paulin Gnatoa Katet, Jean-Baptiste Kouame Kasse and Kone Kamarate Souleymane, Guillaume Soro’s former chief protocol.
In addition, the President of the Republic has instructed the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, to take the appropriate measures with the Public Prosecutor’s Office concerning the provisional release of six people in pre-trial detention, in connection with proceedings relating to offences committed during the
post-electoral crises or for attacks on State security.
On the instructions of the Head of State, a meeting was held on Wednesday 21 February 2024 at the Prime Minister’s Office between the Prime Minister, Robert Mambé, and the victims’ associations, to reiterate the compassion and support of the State and urge them to forgive.
In this spirit, the Head of State gave instructions to the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to erect, as soon as possible, a memorial in honour of the victims of the serious crises that Côte d’Ivoire has experienced in recent years.
As well as serving as a place of remembrance, this memorial is intended to encourage every Ivorian to work unceasingly for peace so that such crimes never happen again in the country.
A number of civilians and military personnel were tried and imprisoned following the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011, which left more than 3,000 people dead in the country. Others were subsequently convicted of offences against state security.
AP/fss/abj/APA