Free to Stand for Truth and Justice

Ousted from power by the French army on April 11, 2011, following the disputed presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire of November 2010, Laurent Gbagbo was charged with crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, on December 5, 2011. This book, written from 2012 onwards, thanks to numerous prison visits and interviews, is the only one to have been produced with the participation of the Ivorian president during his incarceration and trial. This unique testimony is more than ever a document for history, because it sheds light on the manipulations of the 2010 elections, the collusion between Nicolas Sarkozy's France and the ICC to get rid of Laurent Gbagbo, and the stalling tactics and maneuvers that marred "Gbagbogate." Over meetings with François Mattei, Laurent Gbagbo looks back on his seven years in prison, explains what they mean and shares his vision for the future—that of a free man, come what may. Laurent Gbagbo, historian and university professor, has campaigned all his life for the establishment of true democracy in his country, Côte d’Ivoire. He was elected President of the Republic in October 2000. His struggle to give meaning to the word “independence” has always pitted him against powerful interests. François Mattei is a journalist and author of numerous books.