Abidjan, 6 August 2013 – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, takes note and welcomes the decision of the judicial authorities in Abidjan to provisionally release 14 officials from the former regime of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo.



These officials include the president of the Front populaire ivoirien (FPI), Mr. Pascal Affi N'Guessan, the president of Women Patriots, Mrs Généviève Bro Grébé, the son of the former president, Mr. Michel Gbagbo, the former acting secretary-general of the FPI, Mr. Alphonse Douaty and the former Minister of Defence, Mr. Lida Kouassi.



For the Special Representative, "this development will bring about peace between all Ivorian political actors. It contributes to the pursuit for equal justice and is a good sign for a national dialogue that is truly republican, as part of the search for lasting reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire".



Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou encourages all Ivorian political actors to seize this occasion to resolutely commit to an inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation, which are the only prerequisites to reestablish lasting peace and economic development in Côte d'Ivoire.