Some Ivorian refugees in Ghana have demanded the release of their former president, Laurent Gbagbo, who is standing trial at the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.
The charges pertain to the post-election violence the country experienced when he refused to leave office despite claims that he lost the November 2010 election in a run-off.
[contextly_sidebar id=”UqNthJ9Cc5sPQE7v67SYyzFeDgs1Fabf”]There have been calls for the refugees from Cote d’Ivoire, who have settled at the Fetentaa Refugee camp at Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region to return home.
But the refugees say they will only do so when their former president is released.
The refugees have even rejected pleas from the Ivorian Foreign Affairs Minister who was there to convince them to return to their home country since peace had returned.
In an interview with Citi News, a leader of the refugees, who gave his name as Alex Herve, said peace could only return to Cote d’Ivoire if their current President, Alassane Ouattara, initiate moves for the release of former President Laurent Gbagbo, who is on trial in The Hague.
“They should bring back Lauren Gbabgbo from Holland, they should free him because the authorities sent him there and secondly the put in jail many innocent Ivoirians because they are Bagbo followers,” Mr. Herve said.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana