Ivory Coast commemorated on Sunday 07 August 2022, the 62nd anniversary of its accession to international sovereignty. A day of celebration and joy for a social and political unity that was marked by the absence of Laurent Gbagbo and Henri Konan Bédié, two major figures in the political class.
The political capital Yamoussoukro hosted the official celebrations of Ivory Coast’s independence day on Sunday 07 August 2022. For the 62nd anniversary, President Alassane Ouattara invited the current Chairman of ECOWAS, President Umaro Sissoko Embalo of Guinea-Bissau and President George Weah of Liberia. The event was enhanced by the parade of defence and security forces throughout the morning.
The indifference of former presidents Gbagbo and Bédié.
Ivorians celebrated 62 years of independence without two of the country’s most prominent political figures at the official podium. These are former presidents Henri Konan Bédié and Laurent Gbagbo, who were received by the current president Alassane Ouattara on 14 July 2022 to discuss a probable national reconciliation. According to Henri Konan Bédié’s PDCI party, the latter did not respond to the invitation for “personal reasons”. Nevertheless, he was represented by a five-person delegation, according to a party statement. While on the side of Laurent Gbagbo, it is total silence.
However, Alassane Ouattara in his traditional address to the nation on Saturday evening, announced the presidential pardon for Laurent Gbagbo sentenced in 2018 to 20 years in prison for the so-called “BCEAO heist”.
Gbagbo and his supporters would have wanted more than a presidential pardon.
Laurent Gbagbo is granted a presidential pardon. Two of its former security officials, Vice Admiral Vagba Faussignaux, who received a 20-year sentence, and Gendarmerie Commander Jean Noël Abéhi, who was sentenced to ten years for plotting against the authority of the state, have been conditionally released.
This would not seem to please Gbagbo and his PPA-CI supporters, although a presidential pardon legally acquits the offender, but burdens the conviction on him, whereas an amnesty erases the sentence. These releases would not have made them feel good and may be the real reason for their absence on Independence Day. However, the presidential pardon could give Gbagbo the opportunity to return to power in 2025.
Deepest thoughts to the 49 soldiers detained in Mali.
The celebration of the 62nd anniversary of Ivory Coast’s independence was marked by a message of solidarity addressed to the 49 Ivorian soldiers held by Mali since July. The military parade is also in their honour and Colonel Etienne Otchélico did not tire of reminding the speaker of this at the beginning of the parade.
Thierry Hounye (stag).
