The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has requested that former President Laurent Gbagbo be allowed to run in Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential elections.
Gbagbo was barred earlier this year from taking part in the October elections by the country’s Constitutional Council.
His disqualification hinged on his conviction to a 20-year jail term by an Ivorian court.
Gbagbo was freed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) last year after being cleared of crimes against humanity, though an appeal is still pending.
He can neither vote nor be a candidate in the election, as he is not on the updated electoral roll of the country.
“Remove all obstacles”
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights directed that the Gbagbo be put back on the electoral roll.
It said Côte d’Ivoire must “take all necessary steps to immediately remove all obstacles” preventing Gbagbo from being put on the roll.
In April, Côte d’Ivoire withdrew its recognition of the court’s jurisdiction.
Gbagbo ruled as president from 2000 to 2010 and was succeeded by the incumbent, Alassane Ouattara, who is now seeking a third term.
40 candidates disqualified
Côte d’Ivoire’s October elections have been beset by protests from a section of the public over the disqualification of presidential candidates.
This comes after 40 out of the 44 people aspiring to be president were barred for various reasons by the country’s top court.
Apart fromGbagbo, the Constitutional Council barred the former rebel leader Guillaume Soro from contesting in the elections.
President Ouattara says both men are unqualified to stand in the elections because of their “criminal records”.
“Soro, like Gbagbo, was excluded because he has a criminal record,” Ouattara told the French magazine Paris Match.
“Each of them is perfectly aware that their candidacies are based on provocation … Guillaume Soro deserves to be not on the campaign trail but in prison.”
E A Alanore
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