While Mr. Laurent Gbagbo is on trial at the Hague for crimes against humanity for the 2010 Ivory Coast post electoral violence, it seems his wife, Simone Gbagbo may soon join her husband, following an ICC arrest warrant issued for the Ivory Coast strongwoman.
She is also wanted for alleged crimes against humanity committed in the wake of disputed presidential elections in 2010. Mr and Mrs Gbagbo were arrested in a bunker in April 2011, five months after the elections, following a military assault - backed up by UN and French troops - on their residence in the main city, Abidjan.
Although unelected, it was alleged that she behaved as the alter ego of her husband, exercising power and taking state decision. Before the transfer, both he and his wife, 63, were charged in Ivory Coast with economic crimes, including looting, armed robbery, and embezzlement.
Analysts say the former first lady was a powerful politician in her own right. She is the first woman to be charged by the ICC. Some saw her as the real hardline influence on Mr Gbagbo, preventing him from giving up power (Women have a way of doing that to a man).
In a statement issued on Friday, the ICC said it had decided to make public the warrant of arrest for Mrs Gbagbo on four charges of crimes against humanity of murder, rape, other forms of sexual violence, and other inhumane acts and persecution allegedly committed in Ivory Coast between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment