THE HAGUE – International Criminal Court judges are ruling Wednesday on an appeal by prosecutors against the acquittal of Ivory Coast's former president on charges of involvement in deadly violence that erupted after 2010 elections.
Laurent Gbagbo and former Youth Minister Charles Ble Goude were acquitted in 2019 of responsibility for crimes including murder, rape and persecution following the disputed election.
Judges said that prosecutors failed to prove their case and halted the trial before defense lawyers had even presented any evidence.
More than 3,000 people were killed after Gbagbo refused to accept defeat by his rival, current Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara.