Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Ivorian government says it will pay the travel expenses of former President Laurent Gbagbo, and Charles Blé Goudé, his former youth minister, both of whom were acquitted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), government spokesman Amadou Coulibaly, said on Wednesday at the end of the council of ministers.
"Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé are free to return to Côte d'Ivoire whenever they wish," said the spokesman, .
In the minutes of the council of ministers, posted on the official account of the Presidency of Côte d'Ivoire, Coulibaly said he was delivering a message from President Alassane Ouattara.
"Their travel expenses, as well as those of their families will be paid by the Ivorian state. Gbagbo will benefit from the status of a former head of state," he said.
-0- PANA TNDD/IS/MTA/VAO 7April2021
