Serges Gbagbo, an independent candidate in the municipal elections scheduled for September 2nd in the electoral district of Gagnoa, has claimed to have been assaulted by individuals shortly after 8:30 PM on the evening of Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at the Babré neighborhood roundabout.
“Numbering five individuals, they surrounded me, assaulted me, and attacked me, demanding that I hand over the keys to the motorcycle I was riding as the president of the municipal youth of Gagnoa,” he stated during a press conference held in the Garahio neighborhood.
Mr. Gbagbo asserted that he knows these individuals well and conveyed to his “attackers” that even if they were sent by the mayor, their approach was not the “right” one, as he should surrender the equipment during a general assembly. Furthermore, the candidate believes that the assault he claims to have suffered is due to his appointment as the president of the municipal youth, as he was considered close to the mayor.
Yssouf Diabaté, the deputy mayor of Gagnoa, initially condemned the assault against the independent candidate, urging him to file a complaint. He then clarified that he had never tasked any of his associates with retrieving President Gbagbo’s motorcycle.
Furthermore, he explained that there are several legal methods to reclaim the motorcycle, which belongs to the municipality. “I can simply summon him or even ask the municipal police to recover the motorcycle. Why would I send people against him when I have just provided a dozen new motorcycles to the youth?” the mayor affirmed.
