Ivory Coast Presidential candidate, Guillaume Soro has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for corruption. 

The 47-year-old politician was convicted in absentia on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. 

He was found guilty of “embezzlement of public funds” and “money laundering” when he bought his Abidjan residence in 2007, while he was prime minister of a government of national unity. 

The Abidjan court fined him nearly seven million euros ($7.6 million), ordered the confiscation of his Abidjan home, and barred him from civic duties for five years. 

The court issued a fresh arrest warrant against him, in effect barring him from contesting elections, and ordered him to pay three million euros in damages and interest to the state.

The former prime minister, who has been living in France on exile since December 2019, denied the corruption charges, claiming they are politically motivated.

Prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Soro in December for allegedly plotting a coup against his former ally Ouattara's government and stealing public funds.

According to reports, Soro diverted his plane in the air instead of returning home in December to Ivory Coast when it became clear that Ivorian authorities had issued an arrest warrant for him.

Soro has denied the charges, which he says are intended to prevent him from challenging Ouattara's preferred successor, Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, in the election.

If he doesn't get a successful appeal, the former rebel leader will be banned from standing for the October presidential election. 

“I am still running for the presidency and I will win,” Soro said after the verdict, describing the trial as a “parody”.

Government lawyer Ben Meite Abdoulaye dismissed suggestions the verdict was political, calling it a "thunderbolt in the sky of Ivorian corruption".

"This decision is the start of a new era in Ivory Coast. We must hunt down corruption wherever it is found," he said.

https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2020/4/ivory-coast-presidential-candidate-guillaume-soro-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-for-corruption.html

I hope Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is learning how politics is played.

Interesting

ochukwuma15:
I hope Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is learning how politics is played.

How does this concern Jonathan now

All na part of the dirtiness of politics.

But I will like to visit Ivory coast soon. I heard their gals can fvck well

Hey yar

MyVILLAGEpeople:
All na part of the dirtiness of politics.

But I will like to visit Ivory coast soon. I heard their gals can fvck well

Finish fxxxing the oloshos in your street first

Alot of hypocrites will commend this but if the same thing happens in naija.... its tyranny nd dictatorship,its because he is a southerner/northerner , because he is a Muslim/Christian , because he is Igbo:Yoruba:Hausa , because he is critic of the regime..... Las las a section of people must find a way to wash him off his sins because he is their own either by religion, regionalism or ethnicity.

Nigerians are not ready to rid themselves of corruption because almost everyone is corrupt in this country but would like to be seen as a saint nd even join others in pointing fingers nd sharing blames.

Funny how allies have suddenly become enemies over a space of 9 years. Back in 2011, these two teamed up to overthrow the government of Laurent Gbagbo but today what politics has joined politics has put asunder.

But then, Ouattara is playing a very dangerous game here all in a bid to frustrate Soro's 2020 presidential ambitions.

Guillaume Soro still has the capability to destabilise Cote d'Ivoire. He is still a very dangerous man.

Ouattara must know this. A Third Ivorian Civil War is still a possibility with Soro still in exile. He has done this before.

He can still do it again.

mansakhalifa:
Funny how allies have suddenly become enemies over a space of 9 years. Back in 2011, these two teamed up to overthrow the government of Laurent Gbagbo but today what politics has joined politics has put asunder.

But then, Ouattara is playing a very dangerous game here all in a bid to frustrate Soro's 2020 presidential ambitions.

Guillaume Soro still has the capability to destabilise Cote d'Ivoire. He is still a very dangerous man.

Ouattara must know this. A Third Ivorian Civil War is still a possibility with Soro still in exile. He has done this before.

He can still do it again.

You are on point. Here in cote d'ivoir, they even fear and respect soro more the president himself. This is not good news at all to those living in cote d'ivoire. Microbes (area thugs) are silently watching. Ouattara have tried in terms of development but it seems he doesn't carry the people along especially the Muslims. This is a very sensitive case. He should have negotiated with soro instead of using political force. Remember soro still commands a large group of area boy that helped in removing gbagbo.

Juchii:


You are on point. Here in cote d'ivoir, they even fear and respect soro more the president himself. This is not good news at all to those living in cote d'ivoire. Microbes (area thugs) are silently watching. Ouattara have tried in terms of development but it seems he doesn't carry the people along especially the Muslims. This is a very sensitive case. He should have negotiated with soro instead of using political force. Remember soro still commands a large group of area boy that helped in removing gbagbo.

I am happy someone here understands everything I am trying to say.

Very happy.

Outtara is playing a risky game all in a bid to keep power. This man was part of those who gave him power. Soro is street cred personified. He is not just another career politician like Ouattara and that is why I pity Ouattara.

mansakhalifa:


I am happy someone here understands everything I am trying to say.

Very happy.

Outtara is playing a risky game all in a bid to keep power. This man was part of those who gave him power. Soro is street cred personified. He is not just another career politician like Ouattara and that is why I pity Ouattara.

I am laughing at Ouattara, the man is busy tracking down microbes. Microbes are too large to be tracked down. In fact microbes don't have a face. They are everywhere, from drivers to conductors of gbaga to mechanics.... Etc.