- Title: Ivory Coast presidential candidate faces life in prison after coup plot
- Date: 26th December 2019
- Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (DECEMBER 26, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ABIDJAN COURTHOUSE ENTRANCE / PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE SIGN READING (French): "COURTHOUSE OF ABIDJAN / ABIDJAN COURT OF APPEAL" VARIOUS OF MEDIA PREPARING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, RICHARD ADOU, SITTING IN FRONT OF MEDIA ADOU PREPARING FOR STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (French) PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, RICHARD ADOU, SAYNG: "Some people close to him (eds. note: refers to Guillaume Soro) did not hesitate to discredit the institutions in place. These acts, far from being isolated, were part of a conspiracy which were to lead to a civil and military insurrection. The elements gathered by our intelligence services, which includes an audio recording that I will have you listen, clearly prove that this project was going to be acted soon." MEMBERS OF MEDIA FILMING AS AUDIO RECORDING IS BEING PLAYED JOURNALISTS LISTENING AND TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (French) PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, RICHARD ADOU, SAYNG: "One of the missions given to the investigators by the judge was to search for elements, they managed to seize 16 phones, 9 sim cards, communication radios, 5 bullet proof vests, one kevlar, 3 military trousers, 3 caliber 12.7 machine guns, 6 12.7 caliber recharge, 4 RPG, 13 rockets, 3 flash suppressors, 4 anti-tank missiles, 59 packs of AK munitions, 19 Kalach chargers, 14 AK 47s, 2 boxes of munitions, 1 bucket full of AK munitions." ADOU ON CAMERA SCREEN JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES VARIOUS OF ADOU SHOWING PHOTOS OF WEAPONS SEIZED SIGN READING (French): "LARGE COURTROOM OF THE COURT OF APPEAL" VARIOUS OF MEDIA LISTENING TO AUDIO RECORDING (SOUNDBITE) (French) PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, RICHARD ADOU, SAYNG: "What are the possible sentences? Just the attempt and the conspiracy against the state. It’s life in prison. You know in these cases it's the highest penalties that are usually applied. But in terms of punishment, the judge will decide at the end of the trial." END OF NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF ABIDJAN COURTHOUSE EXTERIOR
- Embargoed: 9th January 2020 20:38
- Keywords: Ivory Coast arrest warrant guillaume soro residential candidate
- Location: ABIDJAN, IVORY CAST / PARIS, FRANCE
- City: ABIDJAN, IVORY CAST / PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: Ivory Coast
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001BBM2CZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: QUALITY AS INCOMING
Ivory Coast's former rebel leader and presidential candidate, Guillaume Soro, could face life imprisonment over allegedly plotting a coup that involved amassing weapons, the country's public prosecutor said on Thursday (December 26).
The Ivorian authorities issued an arrest warrant for Soro on Monday (December 23), prompting him to call off a planned homecoming after months overseas.
The warrant is likely to increase tensions ahead of an October 2020 presidential election that is seen as a test of Ivory Coast's stability after two civil wars since the turn of the century.
During a news conference, prosecutor Richard Adou played a recording made by the Ivorian intelligence services, in which Soro could allegedly be heard planning a coup.
"The penalty for attempting a plot against state security is a life sentence," Adou said, adding that the investigation was ongoing.
Soro's lawyer and spokeswoman Affoussy Bamba Lamine did not deny the authenticity of the recording presented by prosecutors, but stressed that it was from 2017 and incomplete. She said in a video posted on Facebook on Thursday that Soro's team would release a full version of the audio soon.
Soro is believed to be in Europe, although his exact whereabouts are unclear. He has denounced the case against him as being politically motivated.
So far, more than 15 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation, which includes charges of money-laundering and amassing illegal weapons, the prosecutor said.
Soro, 47, led the rebels who failed to oust then-president Laurent Gbagbo in 2002. Soro's forces installed President Alassane Ouattara during a civil war that followed the 2010 election, in which both Gbagbo and Ouattara claimed victory.
Ouattara won re-election in 2015 but has given mixed signals about whether he will seek a third term, adding to uncertainty about the vote in Francophone West Africa's largest economy.
Soro retains the loyalty of many former rebel commanders who hold senior positions in the army. He served for several years as speaker of the National Assembly but has since fallen out with Ouattara.
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