Former Ivorian Prime Minister sentenced to life imprisonment over coup plot
Former Côte d’Ivoire Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia on charges of plotting a coup against President Alassane Ouattara.
An Ivorian Court, while living in exile in Europe, carried out his sentence on Wednesday, June 23.
Soro, once a rebel leader, was charged with conspiracy and an attempted attack on state authority.
He, however, denied the charges levelled against him, describing it as politically motivated, as his lawyers said there was no evidence to show that he was guilty.
About 19 other people were also sentenced in relation to the case, including Soro’s lawyer, Affoussy Bamba, also in exile, who received a 20-year jail term.
The court also demanded the disbanding of Soro’s political movement, Generations and People in Solidarity party (GPS).
All 20 on trial must also pay a collective fine in damages.
However, Soro’s lawyers has hinted on an appeal on the decision.
During Côte d’Ivoire’s civil war, Soro led the rebel forces that ousted the regime of President Laurent Gbagbo, leading to the election of Alassane Outtara.
Soro went on to serve as prime minister and speaker of parliament under Ouattara, but the two men fell out as the president made it clear that he would oppose Soro’s own presidential ambitions.
The case has raised tensions in a country still recovering from a brief civil war a decade ago, during which Soro led the rebels that swept Ouattara to power after a disputed election.
“This trial has demonstrated once again the corruption of the Ivorian judiciary and its wilful submission to the diktats of the executive,” Soro said in a statement after the verdict.
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The case has raised tensions in a country still recovering from a brief civil war a decade ago, during which Soro led the rebels that swept Ouattara to power after a disputed election.
Soro went on to serve as prime minister and speaker of parliament under Ouattara, but the two men later fell out as the president made clear he would oppose Soro’s own presidential ambitions.
Prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Soro in December 2019, just before he planned to return home from Europe to launch his presidential campaign.
Soro was also accused of stealing public funds, for which he was convicted and sentenced last year to 20 years in prison. He denies those charges too.