The Ivorian presidential candidate and former rebel leader, Guillaume Soro, has been convicted in absentia of embezzlement and sentenced to 20 years in jail.
He was fined the equivalent of $7.4m (£6m) and barred from civic duties for five years.
The trial was boycotted by Mr Soro’s lawyers who said the allegations against him were political and aimed at excluding him from this year’s presidential poll.
Mr Soro, who lives in Paris, was accused of using public money to buy a house in the commercial capital, Abidjan. The property has been confiscated by the court.
The former rebel leader has also been accused of plotting a coup against President Alassane Ouattara who is due to leave office this year.
Mr Soro, who has served as prime minister, retains the loyalty of former rebel commanders who now hold senior positions within the military.Article share tools
Guillaume Kigbafori Soro on born 8 May 1972 is an Ivorian politician who was the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast from April 2007 to March 2012. Prior to his service as Prime Minister, Soro led the Patriotic Movement of Ivory Coast, and later the New Forces as its Secretary General .
In March 2012, Soro became President of the National Assembly of Ivory Coast. He stepped down from that position in February 2019, announcing in June 2019 that he is running to succeed President Alassane Ouattarra.
Soro led the Patriotic Movement of Côte d’Ivoire (MPCI) in a September 2002 rebellion against President Laurent Gbagbothat triggered the Ivorian Civil War.
In December 2002 Soro’s MPCI combined with two other rebel groups, the Ivorian Popular Movement of the Great West (MPIGO) and the Movement for Justice and Peace (MJP), to form the New Forces (Forces Nouvelles de Côte d’Ivoire). He was appointed as Secretary-General of the New Forces.
By: NK AB