The International Criminal Court (ICC) has held hearings on whether Charles Blé Goudé, a former Ivorian minister and youth activist, should face trial on charges of crimes against humanity. He’s accused of playing an important role in the violence that followed the loss of Ivory Coast’s former president, Laurent Gbagbo, in the elections in 2010.
The prosecutor and the legal representative of the victims can add written statements to their presentations. Then the defence team has until 17 October to respond. By mid-December the ICC judges will issue a ruling about whether there’s a case against Blé Goudé. He faces very similar accusations to those against Gbagbo. In the former president’s case, the judges ordered the prosecution to go back and find some more evidence.
Do you think that will happen this time?
For more background information about the case (in French), please check our sister site: Ivoire Justice.
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