The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Dec. 11 confirmed four charges of crimes against humanity against Charles Blé Goudé, and committed the ally of former President Laurent Gbagbo to trial at The Hague. Blé Goudé is accused of working with Gbagbo to orchestrate a wave of post-election violence between December 2010 and April 2011. Both Goude and Gbagbo are in ICC custody, and the prosecutor's office will seek to join Gbagbo's trial with Goudé's. The charges were a result of a five-month post-election crisis in which Gbagbo refused to step down after internationally recognized results of the November 2010 election proclaimed the current president, Alassane Ouattara, the winner. At least 3,000 people were killed and 150 women raped during the crisis. Much of the violence was carried out along ethnic, political and religious lines. Goude is allegedly responsible for murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence and other inhuman acts.
The ICC also issued a statement demanding Ivory Coast hand over Simone Gbagbo, the wife of Laurent Gbagbo, for crimes against humanity. This came after ICC judges found that domestic authorities were not taking reasonable steps towards finding whether Simone Gbagbo is criminally responsible. The ICC and Ivorian authorities have not pursued anyone who fought for Ouattara during the crisis, despite findings that both sides committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
From Jurist, Dec. 13. used with permission.
