The Abidjan Court of Appeal on Monday upheld Guillaume Soro’s life sentence for attempting to undermine state security. He also confirmed the judgments of several of his relatives.
The Court of Appeal followed the prosecutor’s demands and sentenced nine of the accused to 20 years in prison for “conspiracy” and “attempted undermining of state security”. Among them are Souleymane Kamaraté, known as Soul to Soul, who was Guillaume Soro’s director of protocol, Commander Jean-Baptiste Kouamé, former head of the escort of the former President of the National Assembly, as well as several soldiers.
During the trial, the justice system reproached them in particular for having concealed and tried to make weapons disappear, sometime before the aborted return of Guillaume Soro to Côte d’Ivoire, in December 2019.
In addition, the Court of Appeal acquitted Alain Lobognon and Félicien Sékongo. The judges consider they have not been guilty of any acts related to public disorder and spreading false news. In the first instance, they were sentenced to 17 months in prison. The challenge for them was to regain their civil rights and emphasize their advocates.