Laurent gbagbo
Ivory Coast minister to meet ex-president Gbagbo to discuss return
Gbagbo, 75, was ousted in April 2011 after refusing to concede electoral defeat to Ouattara, triggering violence that claimed around 3,000 lives.
Laurent Gbagbo was forced out by his rival, Alassane Ouattara, after a brief but bloody civil war that claimed some 3,000 lives.
In an interview published on Thursday by the French magazine 'Paris Match', the 78-year-old incumbent fired a verbal broadside at former president Laurent Gbagbo and ex-rebel chief Guillaume Soro.
Also barred was former rebel leader turned prime minister Guillaume Soro, 47, a onetime Ouattara ally who had been sentenced to 20 years in absentia over alleged embezzlement.
President Alassane Ouattara's decision to contest a third term in October has already triggered outrage among opposition and civil society groups, who labelled it a "coup" that risked triggering chaos.
The ICC, the world’s first permanent war crimes court, acquitted Gbagbo on crimes against humanity charges in January last year, saying prosecutors had failed to prove any case against him.
The ICC, the world’s first permanent war crimes court, acquitted Laurent Gbagbo on crimes against humanity charges on 15 January, saying prosecutors had failed to prove any case against him.
Laurent Gbagbo faced charges on four counts of crimes against humanity over the 2010-2011 bloodshed which following a disputed vote in the West African nation.
The court acquitted Gbagbo on crimes against humanity charges on 15 January saying prosecutors had failed to prove any case against him.
ICC judges acquitted Gbagbo and his aide Charles Ble Goude on charges stemming from a wave of violence after disputed elections in the west African nation in 2010.
Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has had to agree to limit his movements and to be under surveillance in Belgium.
Laurent Gbagbo, now 73, was the first former head of state ever to stand trial at the ICC.
Judges agreed to release the 73-year-old ex-strongman and his aide Charles Ble Goude on condition that he lives an as-yet unspecified country pending an appeal by the prosecution.
Belgium has been floated as a possible option, as happened when the ICC released former DR Congo warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba in 2018.
Head judge Cuno Tarfusser said the court "rejects the prosecution request to maintain them in detention", referring to Laurent Gbagbo and his right-hand man Charles Ble Goude.
Judges cleared Laurent Gbagbo and his right-hand man Charles Ble Goude on Tuesday of charges of crimes against humanity over a wave of post-electoral violence in 2010-11 in which around 3,000 people died.
Laurent Gbagbo has been cleared of crimes against humanity in connection with a post-electoral crisis in 2011 in which at least 3,000 people were killed.
Gbagbo was arrested for crimes against humanity in 2011 following post-electoral violence in the world’s number cocoa producer that left 3,000 people dead.
Judges ordered the immediate release of the 73-year-old deposed strongman, the first head of state to stand trial at the troubled ICC, and his right-hand man Charles Ble Goude.