In June 2010, Mamadou Koulibaly, the President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire, accused Désiré Tagro, the 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;[2] in July 2010, the investigation judged that the allegations were without merit,[3] and Tagro, who continued to enjoy Gbagbo's favor, was ultimately unscathed by the allegation.[4]
Tagro and Laurent Gbagbo were arrested on 11 April 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.[1][6] Some Gbagbo loyalists claimed that Tagro was shot by Republican forces while in custody at the Golf Hotel.[6] Tagro was taken to a hospital in Abidjan by U.N. peacekeepers, where he died on 12 April 2011 at the age of 52.[7]United NationsUnder-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping OperationsAlain Le Roy said that Tagro's death "is to be deplored."[7]