Ivory Coast soldiers face trial for 2011 killing of female marchers
Eight soldiers are to face court-martial early next week in Ivory Coast over the murder of seven female demonstrators during the post-election violence that plagued the country in late 2010 and the following year.
“Major Gnahoua Dablet and seven other soldiers will be tried on Monday (March 16) for their suspected involvement in the slaughter of seven women in Abobo,” military prosecutor Ange Kessi said on Friday.
The military trial comes after a civilian court in the commercial capital of Abidjan on March 10 sentenced the former first lady, Simone Gbagbo, to 20 years in prison for instigating the 2010-2011 post-electoral conflict, which led to the deaths of some 3,000 people.
The 65-year-old wife of the former president, Laurent Gbagbo, was sentenced for twice as long as the prosecutors had initially asked for. Simone’s lawyer said they will appeal.
Simone was tried along with 82 other supporters of her husband. General Bruno Dogbo Ble, who headed the elite republican guard, as well as the former navy chief, Admiral Vagba Faussignaux, were also sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The former president is also facing four charges including crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court over his alleged role in orchestrating the post-election violence.
Simone was arrested along with her husband in April 2011, after troops stormed a bunker following a military assault on their residence in Abidjan.
Ivory Coast plunged into chaos after the former president refused to concede defeat in the November 2010 presidential election and remained in power until being driven out in April 2011 by the supporters of Alassane Ouattara, the country’s current president.
MP/HSN/SS
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