Ivory Coast: Former First Lady Simone Gbagbo appears in court

(Baonghean.vn) - On Friday, December 26, the trial of former first lady Simone Gbagbo began in the city of Abidjan. Ms. Simone Gbagbo was accused of “endangering national security” after deadly riots occurred in 2010-2011.

On Friday, Simone Gbagbo went on trial on the same charges as her husband, Laurent Gbagbo, former President of Ivory Coast, and Pascal Affi N'Guessan, leader of the Ivorian National Front party. Nicknamed the "Iron Lady," Simone Gbagbo, 65, and 82 former regime officials were charged by Ivory Coast's judiciary with "endangering national security." They are believed to be involved in the 2010-2011 post-election crisis that left more than 3,000 people dead.

Simone Gbagbo with her husband Laurent Gbagbo in February 2011 in Abidjan. Photo: AFP/Sia Kambou

The trial was originally scheduled for October 2014, but was postponed indefinitely. The reason given was that the government needed to restructure the jury because some members of the jury were considered biased. The absence of three judges delayed the trial, but other qualified judges were immediately found to replace them and continue the trial.

Like her husband, Simone Gbagbo is considered an irreplaceable pillar of the former regime of Laurent Gbagbo. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gbagbo were charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with crimes against humanity. However, the Ivory Coast government refused to transfer Simone's case to the ICC. Simone Gbagbo was placed under house arrest from late April 2011 until December when she was transferred to a military school in Abidjan.

For more than three years, former President Laurent Gbagbo has been detained in The Hague awaiting trial for “crimes against humanity” which will begin in July 2015. Mr. Laurent Gbagbo has not acknowledged his defeat to his opponent, Mr. Alassane Ouattara, in the Ivory Coast presidential election in December 2010, causing the country to fall into crisis.

The trial of the former first lady is considered a “challenge” for the Ivory Coast’s judiciary since the end of the crisis. However, this trial has also received many criticisms. One of them said that “this hasty trial is essentially to obtain a disbursement of 5 million euros as promised by the European Union when the Ivory Coast’s judiciary is restored”.

Chu Thanh– according to LeMonde December 26