Désiré Tagro
Encyclopedia
Désiré Asségnini Tagro was an Ivorian
politician
who served as the Minister of the Interior and chief of staff
for former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo
during the 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis
. Tagro was a top ally of Gbagbo.
In June 2010, Mamadou Koulibaly
, the President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire
, accused Désiré Tagro, the then Minister of the Interior, of embezzling money and showing regional favoritism regarding admissions to a training school for the police. President Laurent Gbagbo ordered an investigation into the allegations; in July 2010, the investigation judged that the allegations were without merit, and Tagro, who continued to enjoy Gbagbo's favor, was ultimately unscathed by the allegation.
During the Second Ivorian Civil War
of 2010 and 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department banned American companies and individuals from doing commercial or financial business with Désiré Tagro, as well as Laurent Gbagbo, Gbagbo's foreign minister
, Alcide Djédjé
, and the head of the Ivorian Popular Front
, Pascal Affi N’Guessan.
Tagro and Laurent Gbagbo were arrested on April 11, 2011, at Gbagbo's home in Abidjan
by Republican forces loyal to President Alassane Ouattara
. Tagro suffered a gunshot wound to the face during the arrest, though the circumstances remain unclear. Some Gbagbo loyalists claimed that Tagro was shot by Republican forces while in custody at the Golf Hotel. Tagro was taken to a hospital in Abidjan
by U.N. peacekeepers, where he died on April 12, 2011, at the age of 52. United Nations
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy said that Tagro's death "is to be deplored."
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the Minister of the Interior and chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
for former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Koudou Gbagbo served as the fourth President of Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 until his arrest in April 2011. A historian by profession, he is also an amateur chemist and physicist....
during the 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis
2010–2011 Ivorian crisis
The 2010–11 Ivorian crisis was a political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire which began after Laurent Gbagbo, the President of Côte d'Ivoire since 2000, was proclaimed the winner of the Ivorian election of 2010, the first election in the country in 10 years...
. Tagro was a top ally of Gbagbo.
In June 2010, Mamadou Koulibaly
Mamadou Koulibaly
Mamadou Koulibaly is an Ivorian politician who has been President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire since January 2001. Previously he was Minister of the Budget in 2000 and Minister of the Economy and Finance from 2000 to 2001...
, the President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire
National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire
The National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire is Côte d'Ivoire's unicameral legislative body. Evolved from semi-representative bodies of the French Colonial period, the first National Assembly was constituted on 27 November 1960 with 70 elected member in accordance with the Constitution of 31 October...
, accused Désiré Tagro, the then Minister of the Interior, of embezzling money and showing regional favoritism regarding admissions to a training school for the police. President Laurent Gbagbo ordered an investigation into the allegations; in July 2010, the investigation judged that the allegations were without merit, and Tagro, who continued to enjoy Gbagbo's favor, was ultimately unscathed by the allegation.
During the Second Ivorian Civil War
Second Ivorian Civil War
The Second Ivorian Civil War broke out in March 2011 when the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire escalated into full-scale military conflict between forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the President of Côte d'Ivoire since 2000, and supporters of the internationally recognised president-elect Alassane Ouattara...
of 2010 and 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department banned American companies and individuals from doing commercial or financial business with Désiré Tagro, as well as Laurent Gbagbo, Gbagbo's foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
, Alcide Djédjé
Alcide Djédjé
Ilahiri Alcide Djédjé is an Ivorian diplomat who was the Permanent Representative of Côte d'Ivoire to the United Nations from 2007-2010. He was succeeded by Youssoufou Bamba....
, and the head of the Ivorian Popular Front
Ivorian Popular Front
The Ivorian Popular Front , known by its French initials FPI, is a centre-left, democratic socialist and social democratic, political party in Côte d'Ivoire....
, Pascal Affi N’Guessan.
Tagro and Laurent Gbagbo were arrested on April 11, 2011, at Gbagbo's home in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
by Republican forces loyal to President Alassane Ouattara
Alassane Ouattara
Alassane Dramane Ouattara is an Ivorian politician who has been President of Côte d'Ivoire since 2011. An economist by profession, Ouattara worked for the International Monetary Fund and the Central Bank of West African States , and he was the Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire from November 1990 to...
. Tagro suffered a gunshot wound to the face during the arrest, though the circumstances remain unclear. Some Gbagbo loyalists claimed that Tagro was shot by Republican forces while in custody at the Golf Hotel. Tagro was taken to a hospital in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
by U.N. peacekeepers, where he died on April 12, 2011, at the age of 52. United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy said that Tagro's death "is to be deplored."