Claude Pivi, alias Coplan, and His Son Verny Pivi Arrested in Liberia

After ten months of tracking, Claude Pivi, also known as Coplan, and his son Verny Pivi were arrested in neighboring Liberia. Negotiations are underway between the Guinean and Liberian authorities for their extradition to Conakry. This information was confirmed by Claude Pivi’s lawyer, Me Abdourahmane Dabo.

The circumstances of their arrest are still unclear. Some sources claim they were caught in a village in Nimba County, in the north of Liberia, which borders Forest Guinea. Others say they were caught following a routine road check in Monrovia. They are currently being held under high security in police buildings, awaiting their transfer to Guinea in the coming weeks.

The arrest of Colonel Pivi, who was given a price of 500,000,000 Guinean francs, marks the end of his run. He was feared for his cruelty and buffoonery, and his son was considered the mastermind behind their spectacular escape from the Central House of Conakry on November 4.

The End of This Streak Could Open the Doors to National Reconciliation

This is an important step towards accountability for the man who received the heaviest sentence at the end of the trial for the events of September 28. He will return to his cell in Central House to serve a life sentence, with a security period of 25 years.

The reorganization of the heavy sentences inflicted on the “sons of the forest” at the end of the trial on September 28 could begin with the reorganization of the sentences. This could be the first step towards national reconciliation by healing the wounds of the victims of the painful events that have punctuated political life in Guinea in the last decades.

In the name of restoring the social fabric and building lasting peace in this country that has suffered several times from serious human rights violations, it is essential to promote transitional justice. This allows both to establish responsibilities in the cycles of violence and to forgive the guilty, by applying the triptych truth-justice-reconciliation.

Author

Hamadou GADIAGA