Côte d'Ivoire/France

Ivorian first lady to appear in Paris on Kieffer case

Article published on the 2008-07-08 Latest update 2008-07-08 16:27 TU

Guy-André Kieffer
( Photo : www.guyandrekieffer.org )

The first lady of Côte d'Ivoire, Simone Gbagbo, and former Ivorian economic minister Paul Antoine Bohoun Bouabre have been summoned by a Paris judge to testify in connection with the disappearance of a French journalist, according to a source close to the investigation. Guy-André Kieffer was last seen in Abidijan in April 2004.

Both Gbagbo and Bouabré are not under investigation for Kieffer's disappearance, but have been called to appear as witnesses on 10 July in Paris.

Their names have been mentioned times by in witness statements made during the investigation.

Relations between France and Gbagbo's husband Laurent, who is Côte d'Ivoire's president, were extremely tense during the civil war which finally ended with a peace deal last year.

Ivorian judges in France have already received testimony from other witnesses.

Kieffer, a 54-year-old freelance journalist, was seen for the last time at a supermarket car park in Abidijan.

"This is good news," Kieffer's brother Bernard told RFI. "These two names have been cited repeatedly in connecton with this dossier since the beginning."