Joseph Koffigoh launches petition for the release of the former Ivorian president

The calls for the Liberation of Laurent Gbagbo has grown beyond the borders of Ivory Coast.

Former Prime Minister of Togo Joseph Koffigoh has launched a petition for the release of the former Ivorian president whose trial is before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Koffigoh on Friday told Africanews he plans to petition for 20 million signatories for the former Ivorian president.

“What is the purpose of the petition? The purpose of this petition is to raise the awareness of international opinion on the inequality committed by the arrest, deportation and the “unilateral trial” against someone that many African discover as one of the pioneers of African democracy”
He said.

The petition for the release of Laurent Gbagbo initiated in collaboration with an author, Bernard Dadie was Launched four weeks ago, it currently has some 1 050 000 signatures, including the former Ghana President Jerry Rawlings.

Laurent Gbagbo has been charged with crimes against humanity, murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence by the ICC.

The charges relate to the 2010-2011 post- election in the country, when Gbagbo refused to accept the victor y in the November 10 presidential election of Alassane Ouattara.