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Amnesty: Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA)

Implementations

Amnesty – 2007

The Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) specified that the parties to the accord agreed to extend the scope of the amnesty law passed in 2003 and agreed to adopt a new amnesty law covering crimes committed between 17 September 2000 and the date of the Ouagadougou accord. The accord’s proposed amnesty law, however, did not cover economic crimes, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

As provided for in the accord, a new amnesty law was unveiled on 12 April 2007 that pardoned all Ivoirians living in the country and abroad who had committed crimes and offences related to national security. The law covered the time period between 17 September 2000 and 4 March 2007, when the accord was signed. The new amnesty law excluded economic crimes, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.¹ Sixty-one civilian and military prisoners (40 civilians and 21 military personnel) who had committed crimes related to national security were set free on 7 June 2007 as a result of the new amnesty law.²

“VOA News: Ivory Coast President Offers Amnesty as Peace Plan Advances,” US Fed News, April 13, 2007; “Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the Situation in Cte DÕivoire,” African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC/PR/2(CIV)), December 19, 2007.
“Chronology of key events in Ivory Coast,” Agence France Presse, July 29, 2007; “Fourteenth progress report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cte dÕIvoire,” United Nations Security Council (S/2007/593), October 1, 2007.