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ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Ivory Coast's president has granted amnesty to former first lady Simone Gbagbo, who had been serving 20 years in prison for offenses against the state.
President Alassane Ouattara on state television late Monday announced he had granted amnesty to 800 political prisoners prosecuted for crimes connected to the 2010 postelection crisis.
More than 3,000 people were killed after ex-President Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat.
Simone Gbagbo, in custody since April 2011 was sentenced in March 2015 for offenses against the state. She has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity but Ivory Coast has refused her transfer.
Ouattara says the amnesty decision shows commitment to peace and reconciliation and he urges those affected to ensure no repetition of violence.
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