Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo acquitted by International Criminal Court
- Judges said prosecutors failed to link Gbagbo and ex-minister with violence carried out by former leader’s supporters after 2010 election
.png?itok=arIb17P0)
The International Criminal Court on Tuesday acquitted former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo over a wave of post-election violence.
Judges at The Hague court ordered the immediate release of the 73-year-old deposed strongman, the first head of state to stand trial at the ICC, and his right-hand man, 47-year-old Charles Ble Goude.
Gbagbo faced charges of crimes against humanity over the 2010-2011 bloodshed following a disputed vote in the West African nation in which about 3,000 people were killed.
Prosecutors said Gbagbo clung to power “by all means” after he was narrowly defeated by his bitter rival – now president – Alassane Ouattara in elections in the world’s largest cocoa producer.
Gbagbo and Ble Goude hugged each other after the decision was handed down while supporters started cheering wildly and clapping in the public gallery of the court, prompting head judge Cuno Tarfusser to order them to sit down and “behave”.
“The chamber by majority hereby decides that the prosecution has failed to satisfy the burden of proof to the requisite standard,” Tarfusser told the court.
He said the court “grants the defence motions for acquittal for all charges for Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Ble Goude and orders the immediate release of both accused”.
“I am very, very happy. Finally there is some justice,” said Gragbayou Yves, 45, a Gbagbo supporter from Paris in the public gallery moments after the judgment was passed.
Gbagbo was captured by Ouattara’s troops, who were being helped by UN and French forces, and sent to The Hague November 2011.
The trial started in January 2016, which means he has spent more than seven years in detention.
But the judges on Tuesday said prosecutors failed to show there was evidence of a “common plan” to foment violence and ruled there was no case to answer.
Their release was suspended until Wednesday to give the prosecution time to respond to the judgment.
Ivory Coast carnage claimed 3,000 lives – did former first lady plan the 2010 bloodbath after husband lost election?
Victims in Ivory Coast had appealed to the court not to free Gbagbo.
“If Laurent Gbagbo is released, we victims will not see justice,” added Karim Coulibaly, 43, whose arm was amputated after he was shot in the violence. “I was a driver but now I am unemployed. I’m not against reconciliation but first you have to look after the victims.”
Gbagbo’s lawyers last year argued his case had descended into “fake reality” and should be dismissed, insisting he was now “elderly and fragile”.
The ICC has faced serious difficulties over attempts to try top politicians for crimes allegedly committed by their subordinates or followers – most of them in Africa.
“If Gbagbo walks out free, the ICC should rethink what it could possibly achieve,” said Thijs Bouwknegt, an international law specialist.
The ICC was set up in 2002 to try the world’s worst crimes including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Gbagbo acquittal means he follows in the footsteps of his wife Simone Gbagbo.
