IVORY COAST has pulled out of the African Human Rights and People’s Court after it called for the suspension of an arrest warrant against presidential candidate Guillaume Soro, who was jailed for 20 years on Tuesday.

The decision was taken following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday with government spokesman Sidi Toure telling reporters: “We respect our international commitments, but we also appreciate our sovereignty.”

Amnesty International (AI) hit out at the decision branding it “a step backwards for human rights in Cote d’Ivoire.”