On Wednesday, March 31, 2021, the ICC Board of Appeal reaffirmed the decision to acquit war crimes and crimes against humanity in favor of Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé. After more than ten years of proceedings before the ICC, the former Ivorian president and his former youth minister, who live in Belgium and the Netherlands respectively, are therefore cleared. The question now arises as to their return to the Ivory Coast.
The two men are in different situations. Since December 4, Laurent Gbagbo has had two passports, a regular passport and a diplomatic passport. These identity documents should enable him to return to Côte d’Ivoire.
But before that, his relatives discuss with the authorities about the conditions of his return. Especially on the table his status as former head of state, his close guard or even the unblocking of his bank accounts. To this is added the question: the sentence of 20 years in prison in the BCEAO robbery case.
What steps for Charles Blé Goudé?
For his part, Charles Blé Goudé, will first get a regular passport established at the Ivory Coast Consulate in The Hague. The register of the International Criminal Court should provide him with several documents certifying that all the restrictive conditions imposed on him until then have been lifted.
Another aspect, Charles Blé Goudé, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Ivorian justice for torture, rape, murder between 2010 and 2011, intends to appeal this decision by claiming his acquittal, which according to his advice, refers to the same facts. But it is impossible, they emphasize, to be tried twice for the same reasons as those for which a final acquittal has been pronounced.
I’m very happy, very happy.
Simone Gbagbo, former Ivorian first lady
► Read also: Gbagbo and Blé Goudé acquitted: reactions in Ivory Coast
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