(Africa updates) — AFRICAN LEADERS – This is Former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo been pulled like a goat to the slaughterhouse. He was once upon a time the most powerful man in the Ivory Coast, now he is on trial for war crimes. And this picture is evidence of the fact that power isn’t permanent. Those present arrogant government appointees must take a cue from this.
Today is their day but tomorrow wouldn’t. There’s a revolution going on all over the world and citizens are beginning to wake up to their rights.
Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo and his wife Simone sit in a room at Hotel Golf in
Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo and his wife Simone sit in a room at Hotel Golf in
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African Leaders: Former Ivory Coast president on trial for ‘unspeakable’ crimes
Trial of Laurent Gbagbo, who has pleaded not guilty, is most high profile in The Hague since ICC was set up in 2002
Laurent Gbagbo, the former president of Ivory Coast, has pleaded not guilty to accusations of orchestrating “unspeakable violence” in an attempt to hold on to power after losing an election in 2010.
Gbagbo, 70, wearing a dark suit and blue tie, rose on the opening day of his trial at the international criminal court in The Hague to deny four counts of crimes against humanity, including ordering murder and gang-rape. His co-accused, the former militia leader Charles Blé Goudé, also pleaded not guilty to the same charges, which carry life imprisonment terms.
The trial is a landmark in the history of the ICC. Gbagbo is the highest profile politician to stand trial since it was set up 14 years ago. He remains influential at home and there are fears that his trial could rekindle tensions in Ivory Coast.