Former Côte d’Ivoire President Gbagbo at ICC to Stand Trial for Crimes Against Humanity

Former Côte d’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Monday, December 5 after his arrest in Côte d’Ivoire, in accordance with the arrest warrant (PDF, external link) the ICC issued in November. According to an ICC press release, “Mr. Gbagbo allegedly bears individual criminal responsibility, as indirect co-perpetrator, for four counts of crimes against humanity, namely murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution and other inhuman acts, allegedly committed in the territory of Côte d’Ivoire between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011.” Charges against the ousted former leader stem from the violence that surrounded last year’s presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire where Gbagbo refused to cede power to Alassane Ouattara despite losing the election to him. Some 3,000 people were killed and more than one million displaced during the violence. Still recovering from a civil war that ended in 2003, Côte d’Ivoire has a long track record of tension among its ethnic, religious, and national groups. The arrest warrant describes the organized campaigns of violence allegedly orchestrated by Gbagbo, his inner-circle, and pro-Gbagbo forces who implemented the policies he ordered, with the intent to commit crimes against humanity. It characterizes the violence as widespread and systematic attacks that targeted civilians believed to be supporters of Mr. Ouattara, and often directed at specific ethnic or religious communities. This is the first arrest warrant issued regarding the situation in Côte d’Ivoire and Gbagbo is the first former head of state to be tried by the ICC since its inception in 2002.