Laurent Gbagbo
Former President of Côte d’Ivoire
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Allegations & Charges
Factual Allegations
Laurent Gbagbo formed and led the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party and served as the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire from 2000-2010. His tenure as President spanned a sustained rebellion or civil war beginning in 2002, including government airstrikes against armed rebels in 2004 which resulted in the death of nine French soldiers. Gbagbo refused to hold elections until 2010. When his political opponent was elected, Gbagbo contested the election and refused to cede power.
The ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) alleges that Gbagbo and his inner circle had a plan to retain power by any means, and that Gbagbo and his supporters implemented this plan or policy by recruiting, arming, and later controlling militia groups and mercenaries instructed to carry out attacks against civilians perceived to support Ouattara. Gbagbo also allegedly used government-controlled media to fuel ethnic tensions, and to galvanize support for attacks against civilians and UN personnel in Côte d’Ivoire. Pro-Gbagbo forces allegedly conducted widespread and systematic attacks against the civilian population in Abidjan and western Côte d’Ivoire which followed a similar pattern. In targeting civilians perceived to support Ouattara, pro-Gbagbo forces allegedly targeted civilians in specific ethnic or religious communities. The OTP alleges that these attacks resulted in at least 3,000 deaths, 72 disappearances, and hundreds of cases of sexual violence and enforced disappearance.
Please visit the Court’s website for more information on The Prosecutor v. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé.
Charges
The Accused is alleged to have committed the crimes listed below as an individual, jointly with another, or through another person (Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute).
Under this mode of criminal liability, the Accused is charged with the following atrocity crimes:
Murder (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(a)
Rape and Sexual Violence (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(g)-1, (g)-6
Persecution (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(h)
Other Inhuman Acts (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(k)
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Key Events
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Pre-Trial Chamber III issued a sealed arrest warrant for Gbagbo on November 23, 2011, which was unsealed on November 30, 2011. Charges were confirmed against him on June 12, 2014. His case was joined with Charles Blé Goudé on March 11, 2015. The trial opened on January 28, 2016.
- Arrest Warrant Issued : November 30, 2011
- Initial Appearance : December 5, 2011
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Decision on the confirmation of charges
Confirmation of Charges : June 12, 2014
Press release - Decision to Join the Gbagbo and Blé Goudé Cases : March 11, 2015
- Start of Trial : January 28, 2016
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Charles Blé Goudé
President of the Congress of the Young People and the Patriots (COJEP) and Minister for Youth, Professional Training and Employment
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Allegations & Charges
Factual Allegations
Charles Blé Goudé was the President of the Congress of the Young People and the Patriots (COJEP). The ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) alleges that Blé Goudé was a member of Gbagbo’s inner circle and attended and participated in meetings where Gbagbo and his close advisors discussed their plan to retain Gbagbo’s power by any means.
Blé Goudé allegedly gave political advice to Gbagbo, received instructions from him, and discussed his approval of the common plan to instruct pro-Gbagbo forces to attack civilians perceived to support Ouattara, often targeting civilians in specific ethnic or religious communities. He allegedly played a key role in recruiting and arming pro-Gbagbo youth militias which were integrated into the Ivoirian Defense and Security Forces (FDS). The OTP alleges that Blé Goudé had the ability to control and command the youth of militias and the FDS. He allegedly gave a speech where he called on the Young Patriots to “defend the country against foreigners and foreign peacekeepers,” which proceeded several attacks on civilians and peacekeepers.
Please visit the Court’s website for more information on The Prosecutor v. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé.
Charges
The Accused is alleged to have committed the crimes listed below as as an individual, jointly with another, or through another person (Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute).
Under this mode of criminal liability, the Accused is charged with the following atrocity crimes:
Murder (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(a)
Rape and Sexual Violence (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(g)-1, (g)-6
Persecution (Crime against Humanity): (Article 7(1)(h)
Other Inhuman Acts (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(k)
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Key Events
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Pre-Trial Chamber III issued a sealed arrest warrant for Blé Goudé on December 21, 2011, which was unsealed on September 30, 2013. Charges were confirmed against him on December 11, 2014. His case was joined with Laurent Gbagbo on March 11, 2015. The trial opened on January 28, 2016.
- Arrest Warrant Issued : September 30, 2013
- Initial Appearance : March 27, 2014
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Decision on the confirmation of charges
Confirmation of Charges : December 11, 2014
Press release - Decision to Join the Gbagbo and Blé Goudé Cases : March 11, 2015
- Start of Trial : January 28, 2016
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