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Ivory Coast President Ouattara pardons predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, in bid to boost social cohesion

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Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara, has granted state pardon to his predecessor and eternal rival, Laurent Gbagbo, in what he believes would boost “social cohesion.”

Ouattara who made the announcement in a nationwide address on television on Saturday, said the pardon was also part of a reconciliation drive ahead of elections in 2025 and in celebrating the country’s independence day on Sunday.

“In the interests of strengthening social cohesion, I have signed a decree granting a presidential pardon,” the President said in the speech.

He added that he has also asked the country’s Central Bank to unfreeze Gbagbo’s bank accounts and ensure his lifetime annuity is paid.

Ouattara’s peace gesture came after a meeting last month between him, Gbagbo, who was president from 2000 to 2011, and former President, Henri Konan Bedie, who was the country’s leader from 1993 until his removal in a 1999 coup.

Ouattara described that meeting as a “fraternal meeting” in which the three men “discussed, in a friendly atmosphere, matters of national interest and the ways and means of consolidating peace in our country.”

Gbagbo and Bedie were also invited to attend independence day celebrations at Yamoussoukro, the country’s political capital.

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South Sudan’s finance minister Bak Barnaba Chol fired

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President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has dismissed Bak Barnaba Chol, the Minister of Finance and Planning, and appointed engineer Daniel Daniel Chuong in his place.

 

Kiir removed the Finance Minister without providing a reason in a presidential decree that was published in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

 

Before his appointment, the new finance minister was the petroleum ministry’s technical adviser and the previous minister of petroleum.

 

The country’s local currency, the South Sudanese pound (SSP), was depreciating at the same time as the changes were implemented, causing hyperinflation.

 

Three months ago, the SSP was worth 1,100 units against the US dollar; three months later, it was worth a record low of 1,800 units.

 

To secure hard currency and stabilize the economy, the nation is currently struggling to raise daily oil production from the current 150,000 barrels per day to 175,000 barrels per day.

 

South Sudan is currently in a dangerous situation. UN reports state that local violence between different armed groups and factions is on the rise.

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Senegal: opposition figure Sonko promises new national currency if party wins election

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Controversial Senegalese opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, said the country would consider the implementation of
reform of the West Africa region’s CFA franc currency at a regional level first, and if that failed, would consider creating a national currency, if his preferred candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, wins the next presidential election.

Faye is one of the main candidates in Senegal’s March 24 presidential election. He is backed by the popular firebrand Sonko, who was disqualified from the race over a defamation conviction.

Sonko made the promise while speaking at a joint press conference with Faye, shortly after both politicians were released from jail.

It appeared the comment was aimed at easing concerns after their election campaign, which promised to introduce the new currency if Faye won.

“We will try to implement a monetary reform at the sub-regional level first,” Sonko said. “If that fails, we will decide as a nation.”

Sonko alleged that the CFA franc currency, which is pegged to the euro and used by eight countries of the West Africa Monetary Union, affects economic development in the region, and the time is right to explore more options.

“There’s no sovereignty if there is no monetary sovereignty,” said Faye, speaking at the same press conference.

To be declared the winner in a presidential poll, a candidate must secure the signatures of 0.8% to 1% of the voting public. At least 2,000 sponsors must be secured for each of Senegal’s fourteen regions, where a minimum of seven signatures are required.

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