On 15 January 2019, Trial Chamber I (the Chamber) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided, in a majority decision, to acquit Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and Mr. Charles Blé Goudé of charges of crimes against humanity.
The ICC Prosecutor had alleged that the former Côte d’Ivoire president, Mr. Gbagbo, and members of his inner circle, including former youth leader Mr. Blé Goudé, created and executed a common plan to hold on to power after losing the country’s 2010 presidential election by encouraging attacks against supporters of then rival candidate, Mr. Alassane Ouattara. Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. Blé Goudé were each charged with four counts of crimes against humanity in this context.
Ms. Fanta Doumbia, Executive Coordinator of the Ivorian national coalition for the ICC responded, “This acquittal must not make us forget the thousands of victims of the Ivorian crisis who are in need of justice and reparations.” Mr. Ali Ouattara, President of the Board of the Ivorian Coalition added, “The ICC would benefit from not giving false hope to victims of serious crimes. It must give victims confidence through credible investigations and decisions that take their interest into account. Moreover, it must also investigate all the parties involved in the Ivorian conflict so that today’s impunity does not become the crime of tomorrow.”
مصدر الصورة © ICC-CPI
