IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST – Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé finally acquitted
The ICC Appeals Chamber confirms the decision of Trial Chamber I to acquit Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé of all charges of crimes against humanity
Today, 31 March 2021, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) rendered its judgment on the Prosecutor’s appeal against the decision of Trial Chamber I of 15 January 2019, which acquitted Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and Mr. Charles Blé Goudé of all charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Côte d’Ivoire in 2010 and 2011. The Appeals Chamber confirmed, by a majority vote, the decision of the Trial Chamber by Judge Ibáñez and Judge Bossa with dissenting opinions.
The acquittal of Messrs. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé is now final. The Appeals Chamber also revoked all conditions on the release of Mr. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé and instructed the Registrar of the ICC to make the necessary arrangements for the safe transfer of Mr. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé to one or more host states.
At today’s hearing, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, presiding judge in this appeal, read a summary of the judgment in open court, in the presence of Mr. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé.Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, the judgment was delivered at a partially virtual hearing, with participation either from the Court’s headquarters or outside the Court.
In its judgment, the Appeals Chamber rejected, by a majority, the two grounds of appeal of the Prosecutor, namely that the Trial Chamber’s decision to acquit Mr. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé (i) had breached statutory requirements and (ii) was taken without properly articulating and consistently applying a clearly defined standard of proof and its approach to assessing the sufficiency of the evidence. The Appeals Chamber concluded, among other things, that while the Trial Chambers should ideally render the verdict and reasons simultaneously, a delay between the delivery of a verdict and its reasons does not necessarily invalidate a trial as a whole.On the contrary, such separation may be clearly justified in the particular circumstances of a case; the most obvious in this regard is when the liberty of an acquitted accused is at stake. The Appeals Chamber also rejected the argument that the two majority judges of the Trial Chamber had not consistently articulated and applied the standard of evidence. The Appeals Chamber noted in this regard that the two Judges had found the evidence against the two accused to be exceptionally weak.
The decision of the Appeals Chamber was taken by a majority, with dissenting opinions from Judge Ibáñez and Judge Bossa. Judge Eboe-Osuji provided a separate concurring opinion on various aspects of the appeal.Judge Morrison and Judge Hofmański also attached separate concurring opinions on a specific issue.
In their dissenting opinions, Judges Ibáñez and Bossa explained in detail why they did not agree with the decision of the Appeals Chamber confirming the acquittal decision of the Trial Chamber. They consider that the decision of the Trial Chamber was seriously flawed and would therefore have allowed the Prosecutor’s appeal and ordered a new trial against Mr. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé.
Background: The trial in this case commenced on 28 January 2016. On 15 January 2019, Trial Chamber I, by majority, acquitted Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and Mr. Charles
Goudé Wheat of all charges of crimes against humanity allegedly perpetrated in Côte d’Ivoire in 2010 and 2011. On 1 February 2019, the Appeals Chamber imposed conditions on their release following their acquittal of Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. Blé Goudé, in a state willing to accept them on its territory and willing and able to enforce the conditions set by the Chamber. Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. Blé Goudé are no longer at the ICC detention centre following their conditional release.
On 16 July 2019, Trial Chamber I filed full reasons for the acquittal of Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and Mr. Charles Blé Goudé. On 16 September 2019, the Prosecutor filed an appeal against this decision. From 22 to 24 June 2020, the Appeals Chamber of the Court held hearings to hear submissions from the parties and participants on the Prosecutor’s appeal against the acquittal decision in this case.
Source : Facebook page Laurent Gbagbo
Initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the major march of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the main opposition party in Côte d’Ivoire, will finally take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This postponement was announced by the party’s Executive Secretary, who points out that the decision came after discussions between the PDCI leadership and the authorities of the Abidjan department. The details of these discussions have not been made public.
This demonstration, highly anticipated by the party’s activists and supporters, aims to support the candidacy of its president, Tidjane Thiam, in the presidential election of 2025, and to protest against his removal from the electoral list. A decision that the party qualifies as unfair and unacceptable, arguing for the right of all Ivorian citizens, including those with dual nationality, to participate in the political life of the country.
The route of the march remains unchanged: the protesters will leave from the SOCOCE space of the 2 Plateaux, in the municipality of Cocody, to head towards the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). The party calls for a strong peaceful mobilization in order to convey a clear message: demand inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections.
The removal of Tidjane Thiam and other opposition figures is mainly based on the issue of dual nationality, a legal provision that continues to be debated as the election approaches. The PDCI, which sees in Thiam a rally candidate capable of unifying the Ivorians, intends to make this march a highlight of its campaign and its democratic fight.
Photo credit: Tidiane Thiam page
The list of presidential candidates in Côte d’Ivoire is expanding on Saturday, May 31, 2025. After the withdrawal of Tidjane Thiam, another candidate comes to replace him. The latter had submitted his application in 2020 but it was invalidated. Indeed, in his announcement of candidacy, the latter has emphasized the valorization of cultural and spiritual values of the country.
The presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire promises to be exciting. Some candidates have been withdrawn and others are being added to the list of candidates. Additions for a common purpose sitting in the chair. An objective that arouses the interest of Olivier Djè Bi Djè, who has submitted his candidacy. Thus, the deputy of the city of Zuénoula announced his candidacy for the presidential election of 25 October 2025 on 31 May 2025.
An application that was invalidated five years ago (2020) due to sponsorship non-compliance. However, this candidacy could be valid because the politician has well prepared his mount before launching. However, there is still some way to go. Indeed, to be sure, the member for Zuénoula of Côte d’Ivoire has an obligation to respect the electoral code by bringing together at least sponsorship in 17 independent regions.
Olivier Djè Bi Djè, in his candidacy announcement speech, unveiled his management plan once at the presidency headquarters. As the Ivorian politician is a manager, he opts for common management with a future of social justice, without forgetting peace and sustainable development.
He gave a pledge on leadership based on the identity of the country. It also intends to place cultural and spiritual values high on the agenda with traditional leaders. Finally, the new candidate calls for unity in order to address the country’s challenges as quickly as possible. He also counts on the population for a victory.
Source: africa-sur7 / Credit photo: afrique-sur7
IVORY COAST
IVORY COAST – Dominique Ouattara receives cultural actors and the UNAIDS Country Director
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the high-class district of Cocody in Abidjan, the first lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, granted a series of hearings to two prominent cultural actors: the artist Dadju and Affou Keïta, as well as to Henk Van Renterghem, UNAIDS Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire These meetings were part of courtesy visits, cultural invitations and discussions on health issues related to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire Dominique Ouattara received the artists and the UNAIDS representative in an official, no less convivial setting. She exchanged views with the two on cultural issues and with the other on the progress made by Côte d’Ivoire in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
French-Congolese artist Dadju Djuna Nsungula, better known as Dadju, came to express his gratitude to the First Lady. The Commission congratulated him on his exceptional career and the positive impact he has had on African youth. She then received the Ivorian singer Affou Keïta, who came to personally give her an official invitation to her live concert “Reconnaissance à l’effort de Paix”, scheduled for 30 May 2025 at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan. This concert aims to promote peace and living together.
Henk Van Renterghem, UNAIDS Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire, came to provide an update on the progress of the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country. He shared updated data with the First Lady and discussed the challenges of declining international funding, including from the U.S. PEPFAR program. “We have come to give an update as it is said in English to the First Lady of the progress and important progress that the country has registered in the fight against AIDS with a view to achieving the target of eliminating this pandemic by 2030. I shared important figures on the progress made by Côte d’Ivoire,” said Mr Henk Van Renterghem.
For many years, Dominique Ouattara has been involved in the promotion of culture in Côte d’Ivoire. Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, the First Lady expressed her unwavering support for UNAIDS. She also renewed her commitment to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
