International Criminal Law · Analysis and Cases

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The Prosecutor v. Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé


Case Sheet · ICC

The Prosecutor v. Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé

Situation Situation in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Status Acquitted

Context

Laurent Gbagbo was the former President of Côte d'Ivoire. Charles Blé Goudé was the former leader of the Fédération estudiantine et scolaire de Côte d'Ivoire (FESCI) and Minister of Youth. Both were charged with crimes against humanity allegedly committed during post-electoral violence in Côte d'Ivoire between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011. The cases were initially separate but joined on 11 March 2015. Both were acquitted by Trial Chamber I on 15 January 2019, with the acquittal confirmed on appeal on 31 March 2021.

Pre-Trial — Laurent Gbagbo

Arrest warrant 23 November 2011 (under seal) · Unsealed 30 November 2011
Crimes at arrest warrant Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS
Crime against humanity of sexual violence · art. 7(1)(g)-6 RS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS
Transfer to ICC 30 November 2011
Initial appearance 5 December 2011
Crimes at document containing charges Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS
Crime against humanity of sexual violence · art. 7(1)(g)-6 RS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS
Result of confirmation of charges Charges confirmed · 12 June 2014
Crimes charged Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS
Crime against humanity of sexual violence · art. 7(1)(g)-6 RS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS

Pre-Trial — Charles Blé Goudé

Arrest warrant 21 December 2011 (under seal) · Unsealed 30 September 2013
Crimes at arrest warrant Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS
Crime against humanity of sexual violence · art. 7(1)(g)-6 RS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS
Transfer to ICC 22 March 2014
Initial appearance 27 March 2014
Crimes at document containing charges Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS
Crime against humanity of sexual violence · art. 7(1)(g)-6 RS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS
Result of confirmation of charges Charges confirmed · 11 December 2014
Crimes charged Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS
Crime against humanity of sexual violence · art. 7(1)(g)-6 RS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS

Trial

Joinder of cases 11 March 2015
Trial opening 28 January 2016
Trial judgment 15 January 2019 · Acquitted of all charges

Appeal

Notice of appeal 16 September 2019 · Filed by the Prosecution
Appeal judgment 31 March 2021 · Acquittal confirmed · Acquittal now final

Key Documents

Warrant of arrest — Gbagbo Warrant of Arrest for Laurent Gbagbo (2011)
Warrant of arrest — Blé Goudé Warrant of Arrest for Charles Blé Goudé (2011)
Confirmation of charges — Gbagbo Decision on Confirmation of Charges against Laurent Gbagbo (2014)
Confirmation of charges — Blé Goudé Decision on Confirmation of Charges against Charles Blé Goudé (2014)
Decision on joinder Decision Joining the Cases of Gbagbo and Blé Goudé (2015)
DCC — Gbagbo Document Containing the Charges against Laurent Gbagbo (2015)
DCC — Blé Goudé Document Containing the Charges against Charles Blé Goudé (2015)
Trial judgment (acquittal) Trial Chamber I Acquittal Decision (15 January 2019)
Appeal judgment Appeals Chamber Judgment confirming the Acquittal (31 March 2021)
ICC case page Official ICC page — The Prosecutor v. Gbagbo and Blé Goudé