“Guillaume Soro: the former Prime Minister of Ivory Coast announces his imminent return”
After years of exile, Guillaume Soro, former Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, declared on social networks his wish to return to his native country, ending his exile of several years. In a video posted on X, he expressed his desire to return to his ancestral land, without specifying the date of his return.
This announcement comes after an attempted arrest of Guillaume Soro at Istanbul airport on November 3, where he would have been targeted for extradition to Ivory Coast. He nevertheless declares that he is doing “very well” and affirms that he is not guilty of the accusations brought against him.
Having been sentenced to life imprisonment for endangering state security in June 2021, as well as 20 years in prison for concealment of embezzlement of public funds in April 2020, Guillaume Soro faces numerous obstacles for his back. His conviction also led to the invalidation of his candidacy in the 2020 presidential election, won by Alassane Ouattara.
Guillaume Soro’s decision to end his exile raises questions about his political intentions. As a former rebellion leader and former prime minister, he played a key role in Ivorian politics. His break with President Ouattara in 2019 was linked to his presidential ambitions.
Despite the obstacles that stand in his way, Guillaume Soro says he wants to contribute to the reconciliation of the Ivorian people. His return could have a significant impact on the country’s political scene.
It now remains to be seen how the Ivorian authorities will react to this announcement and what the next step will be for Guillaume Soro. His return to Ivory Coast will certainly be closely followed and could mark a turning point in Ivorian politics. To be continued.