Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara on Friday said judicial authorities have released free dozens of people arrested during a violence-marred presidential election last year, reported France 24.
About 100 people lost their lives in violence linked to the October presidential election, which saw Ouattara come to power for a third term. The opposition candidates boycotted the election, saying the Ivory Coast constitution limited presidents to a maximum of two terms in office.
“I note the release under judicial supervision or provisional freedom of 69 accused detainees following the events of the October 2020 presidential election,” Ouattara said in a televised speech.
He said that he had granted pardons to nine others convicted of offenses committed during the same events.
“The examination of the situation of other people still detained is continuing,” he said.
In April, prosecutors said 102 people were still being held over the violence, suggesting roughly 20 people remain in custody.
Former presidents Laurent Gbagbo and Henri Konan Bedie had both requested the release of prisoners held during the election.
Gbagbo met Ivory Coast President Ouattara at the presidential palace in Abidjan late last month. The two leaders met for the first time since the deadly 2010-11 conflict which left over 3,000 people dead. The crisis was sparked after Gbagbo refused to hand over power to Ouattara in the 2010 presidential election.
During the meeting, he had asked the president to release more than 100 people, including some who were involved in another bout of election-related violence during 2010 and 2011. He said that the detainees were political prisoners.
“I told the president – and you will agree with me – I was their leader and I am out today. They are in prison,” Gbagbo said during the joint news conference, adding, “I would like the president to do all he can to free them.”
