[ad_1]
Former Ivory Coast first lady Simone Gbagbo accused the French army of failing to protect her from an alleged rape attempt during her arrest in 2011, in an interview broadcast Wednesday on France 24.
He also called for the postponement of the Oct. 31 elections in Côte d’Ivoire, which have led to increased tensions, with President Alassane Ouattara standing for a third term in what opponents say is an unconstitutional move.
“I saw them with my own eyes! They were filming,” Gbagbo, 71, told the French international news channel of French soldiers.
She responded to a question about a claim she made in 2016 that she was the victim of an “attempted rape” when she was arrested in April 2011 along with her husband Laurent Gbagbo, who had refused to relinquish power to Ouattara following her defeat. electoral. .
The couple were detained by forces loyal to Ouattara during a French-backed military operation after five months of post-election fighting that claimed at least 3,000 lives.
“They were there when people were chasing us, massacring us and I didn’t see a single French soldier raise his hand. They were there with cameras,” he said.
Images of the arrest of the powerful couple from the Ivory Coast went around the world in 2011.
In it, Simone Gbagbo, considered the power behind the throne during her husband’s regime, is seen being pushed by soldiers.
The former first lady was tried in Côte d’Ivoire and was jailed, but was later amnestied by Ouattara along with some 800 people in the name of national reconciliation.
In the interview, Gbagbo said that he thought next month’s elections would not take place and emphasized that the opposition is against Ouattara running for re-election as the constitution sets a two-term limit.
Ouattara, 78, and his supporters argue that a 2016 constitutional change restarted his tenure and that his candidacy is therefore legitimate.
“There will be no elections, people have already taken to the streets. We are already experiencing violence,” he said.
In August, around 15 people were killed in riots after Ouattara announced that he was running for re-election.
