World

Ivory Coast Issues Arrest Warrant For Presidential Candidate Soro

Reuters reports the warrant accuses Guillaume Soro of destabilizing the country and misusing public funds.

Ivory Coast Issues Arrest Warrant For Presidential Candidate Soro
Twitter/@SOROKGUILLAUME
Article by Stephanie Sandoval
SMS
December 23, 2019

Ivory Coast has issued an arrest warrant for presidential candidate Guillaume Soro, according to multiple reports Monday. 

He was scheduled to return home to Ivory Coast on Dec. 23 after more than six months overseas. But his adviser told Reuters his private flight had to land in Ghana because of "security reasons." His adviser also said he wasn't aware of an arrest warrant. 

Sources told Reuters the warrant accuses Soro of destabilizing the country and misusing public funds. 

Dozens of supporters gathered outside Soro's headquarters in Ivory Coast's capital, and riot police reportedly fired tear gas to disperse them.

Soro had been on a monthslong European tour trying to gain support ahead of the presidential election next year. 

Soro is a former rebel leader, former prime minister of the Ivory Coast and former president of the National Assembly. He helped current Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara into office in 2010, but the two have a complicated relationship. It's not clear whether Ouattara will try to run for a third term.