UN report reveals plot to kill Gbagbo allies in Ghana

A United Nations report has revealed plots allegedly funded by the Ivorian government to kill or abduct former President Laurent Gbagbo allies living in Ghana.

This was revealed when a UN sanctioned experts for the Security Council visited Ghana this year.

The Ghana government told the UN experts that they had “foiled” at least two missions this year by Ivory Coast agents to kill or abduct Gbagbo associates, the AFP reported December 2, 2013 after obtaining a copy of the UN report on Sunday.

The AFP report said payments were made to Liberian mercenaries and Ivory Coast militia commanders in a bid to avoid attacks aimed at destabilizing President Alassane Ouattara’s government.

After presidential elections in 2010, Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat which sparked unrest in which thousands died. Gbagbo is now at the International Criminal Court in The Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity.

The UN expert said in the report that they have enough information that payments to these mercenaries were made by the Ivory Coast Interior Ministry’s bureau of operational intelligence.

The report indicated the mercenaries were been paid between $2,000 and $8,000.

Several former ministers during the Gbagbo regime are believed to be living in Ghana.

By Ekow Quandzie