Ivory Coast former Ruling Party Front Populaire Ivoirien Secretary General Laurent Akoun was arrested on Sunday in the town of Adopze, located 100 kilometers east of Abidjan – the country’s capital.
According to the party officials, Akoun was arrested for allegedly having defamed President Alassane Ouattara in a recent meeting with party members and supporters of the former President.
Akoun is also accused of harming the state security by uttering words that may spark violence in the West African nation that has been hit by weeks of attacks from rebels.
Sylvain Miaka Oureto Front Populaire Ivorian party leader, Akoun was arrested for refusing to support and being critical of President Outtara’s ruling party.
Akoun was heading to a party rally when the nation’s paramilitary force arrested him before transferring him to the country’s capital of Abidjan.
The arrest of Akoun happened in less than a week after the arrest of two former President Gbagbo’s Cabinet Ministers.
“The series of arrests against the party’s high-ranking officials is intended to behead the Front Populaire Ivoirien. The Government is man hunting against the leaders of the party,” said Oureta.
The rivalry between the ruling President’s party and the former President Gbagbo’s supporters has seen at least seven attacks being carried out on Ivory Coast’s national army in the last one month leaving at least 17 people killed, among then 10 Ivorian soldiers.
On Saturday, four people died when an army checkpoint was attacked, four people were killed when an army’s checkpoint was attacked by four armed men at Irobo – 100 kilometers west of Abidjan.
Among those killed were one civilian, one soldier and two attackers.
Ivorian authorities say that Gbagbo’s supporters are behind the attacks and are determined to destabilize the country which is recovering from five months of post poll chaos last year where more than 3,000 people were left dead.
However, former President Gbagbo’s party members and supporters have dismissed the claims and said that President Ouattara’s government is out to oppress those opposed to its system of governance and administration.
Posted by Koome Kimonye
