Former Ivory Coast soccer player Aboulaye Traore sentenced to three-year prison term for sexual assault

A former Ivory Coast football star, Aboulaye Traore, also known as Ben Badi, has been given a three-year prison sentence for rape, as reported by an Ivorian women's rights organization, with the verdict being handed down by the Bouake court.

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This ruling marks a significant milestone in the fight against sexual and sexist violence, according to the Ivorian League for Women's Rights, which welcomed the court's decision made on Wednesday.

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The court's judgment includes not only a prison term but also a substantial financial penalty, with Traore ordered to pay 15 million CFA francs, equivalent to $26,700, to the victim as compensation.

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In addition to the jail term and financial penalty, the footballer has been banned from appearing in the central region for a period of five years, as stipulated by the court's ruling.

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A judicial source confirmed that Traore was found guilty of engaging in non-consensual sexual relations with a 21-year-old woman in March 2021, leading to the imposition of these penalties.

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During his playing career, Traore was a revered figure, particularly in his role as a striker for Abidjan's ASEC Mimosas, and also had stints with European clubs, including FC Metz in France and Braga in Portugal.

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His achievements on the field include winning the 1992 African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast national team, earning him the nickname Ben Badi and a lasting place in the hearts of fans in the West African country.