Robert Guéï

Robert Guéï , born the March 6th 1941 with Kabakouma, deceased the September 19th 2002, was the leading soldier who governed the destiny of the Ivory Coast December 24th 1999 with the October 26th 2000. Founder of the Union for the democracy and peace in Ivory Coast (political party), it was married with Pink Guéï

Biography

Guéï was born with Kabakouma, a village in the Western area of Man. He is member of the tribe Yakouba. He is military career: child reared by the army, it is trained at the preparatory military academy of Ouagadougou under French administration then with Saint-Cyr military school and at the University of war of Paris. Support of Felix Houphouët-Boigny, it makes its entry on the political scene in 1982 while placing at the disposal of his wife, candidate with the local elections of the vehicles of the military firemen of which he is commander-in-chief. Sanctioned, it is transferred to Korhogo in the north of the country.

In 1989, it would have taken part in the preparation of the attack of the war leader Charles Taylor against the Liberia.

Recalled on the front of the scene to subdue a mutiny of young recruits, which protested against the delays of wages, there becomes, while remaining colonel, chief of Staff of the FANCI, national Armed forces of Ivory Coast in 1990. It creates then the FIRPAC, Fast Rapid deployment force Para-Commando, who represses the revolts of students of 1991 and organizes in particular, on June 17th, a punitive forwarding in the university residence of Yopougon. In spite of its calling into question by a board of inquiry into these exactions, Gueï is high with the rank of general “for eminent services rendered to the nation”.

At the conclusion of a violent demonstration with Abidjan in 1992, it contributes to the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo which is imprisoned at and the correction Prison of Abidjan (Maca) with Yopougon.

After the death of Houphouët-Boigny in 1993, Guéï is dismissed by its successor Henri Konan Bédié in October 1995, to have refused to utilize its troops to repress the incidents which implied the partisans of the parties of the opposition RDR of Alassane Ouattara and Popular front of the Ivory Coast of isolated Laurent Gbagbo of the poll and which calls with the active boycott. It is named minister but still returned in August 1996 and put at the retirement of the army in January 1997; it was suspected of fomenting a coup d'etat.

Bédié is reversed by a Coup d'etat on December 24th, 1999. Defending oneself to be about it in the beginning, the Guéï general however takes the head of a National council of public Hello before forming a government with the principal parties of opposition (FPI, RDR, PIT). In is excluded the PDCI, the old sole party up to that point with the capacity.

Called “the Father Christmas out of lattice”, enthusiastic catholic, the Gueï general declares: “We came to sweep the house”. He sets up a muscular policy against the delinquency which developed in Abidjan following the economic crisis, but does not manage to overcome political divisions of the Ivory Coast and to restore peace and confidence.

Beaten with the elections of October 2000 by Laurent Gbagbo of the Popular front of the Ivory Coast, Gueï refuses to recognize the result. At once, of the spontaneous demonstrations are opposed to him, and in spite of the repression which makes approximately 300 dead, it must leave the capacity. Guéï takes refuge with Gouessesso, close to the border of the Liberia, but remains a personality of the political scene. It is invited to the forum of national reconciliation in 2001 and agrees to abstain from undemocratic methods.

Guéï denounced the agreement in September 2002, but is found killed in the district of Cocody to Abidjan during the coup attempt of State of the rebels of north. His wife and the Minister of Interior Department, Emile Boga Doudou, was also killed.

Robert Gueï, following the example many African leaders, was member of the French national Big room.

External bonds

'' Which Gueï seeks? '', Jeune Afrique, interview of March 2001.
Funeral in 2006

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