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General News on Wednesday, January 16th, 2019
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2019-01-16
Laurent Gbagbo was acquitted by the ICC
Former President Jerry John Rawlings welcomes Laurent Gbagbo's victory at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Tuesday.
The former leader of Côte d'Ivoire was prosecuted for crimes against humanity following the violence in the West African country in the aftermath of the 2010 elections.
Rawlings tweeted a few hours after the announcement of the decision, hoping that the ICC decision will unite Côte d'Ivoire.
"I hope this will serve as a fresh start for Côte d'Ivoire, a source of unity and not of division, strength and weakness," wrote Rawlings.
Violence erupted in Côte d'Ivoire after Gbagbo refused to accept the election results after defeating opposition leader Albadane Ouattara.
Gbagbo was arrested during a United Nations operation in 2011.
Prosecutors accused Mr. Gbagbo of four counts of crimes against humanity, murder, rape and other forms of badual violence, persecution and "other inhumane acts".
The Ivorian leader denied the accusations, calling them motivated by political reasons.
Analysts have described this decision as a blow to the reputation of ICC prosecutors.
"Whenever a case involving mbad atrocities collapses at the ICC level, this undermines the perception of the Court as a credible and effective institution of international justice," BBC Mark Kersten, author of Justice in Conflict, told BBC.
"Many fear that the court will become an institution where only rebels can be successfully prosecuted," he added.
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