Throngs of supporters gathered at Abijan airport to welcome former President Laurent Gbagbo back at home for the first time in nearly a decade.
The 76 year old’s homecoming was made possible after current president Alassane Ouattara helped facilitate the return.
According to the former president’s attorney, who traveled with him from Brussels, Laurent Gbagbo wants to play a role in reconciling the country.
Ivory Coast was pushed to the brink of civil war after he failed to recognize the outcome of elections in 2010, over 3000 people were killed in post election violence.
It resulted in his arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court for justice.
Gbagbo was sentenced to 20 years in jail in absentia in Ivory Coast after the central bank of West African States was broken into amid the post election crisis, a presidential pardon could be on the cards in order to help the country, truly, unite.
In a short speech, Gbagbo said he was happy and relieved to be back to Africa, happy and relieved to be back to Ivory Coast, he also mentioned his mother and said that he felt emotional about being able to finally go and pay tribute to her to in his native village of mama.
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