Ivory Coast: Charles Blé Goudé reacts to his exclusion from the electoral roll

Invited to appear on TV5 Monde on Tuesday March 18, the former leader of the Jeunes Patriotes strongly contested this decision, which he described as a “delisting based on falsehoods”. However, he said he was not surprised by the situation. “I’m not surprised. Everything was in place to get to this point. My removal from the electoral roll is based on false elements”, he declared firmly.

Like his mentor, Laurent Gbagbo, Charles Blé Goudé was sentenced in absentia to 20 years’ imprisonment, together with deprivation of his civil rights, for acts relating to the 2010-2011 post-election crisis. This conviction led to his disbarment.

Returning to the circumstances surrounding his conviction, he denounced the irregularity of the proceedings. In particular, he referred to the fact that a bailiff who came to his home in Yopougon had claimed not to know where he was, even though his stay in The Hague, where he was being tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC), was public knowledge. “How could anyone not know I was in The Hague? I can’t be in Côte d’Ivoire and The Hague at the same time. It was on the basis of this lie that I was sentenced to 20 years in prison and struck off the electoral roll”, he declared.

Stressing that he had already been tried and acquitted by the ICC for the events in question, he insisted that no court could convict him again for these events.

As far as he is concerned, this conviction by the Ivorian courts is aimed at removing him from the political landscape with a view to the 2025 presidential election. However, he refuses to give in and intends to continue his fight for the restoration of his civil rights. ” I cannot be hindered politically to prevent me from participating in the political life of my country”, he insisted, asserting that he continues to denounce this exclusion and to fight for his rights.