Panafrican News Agency

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo due in Abidjan on Thursday

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Acquitted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo is due in Abidjan on Thursday, after 10 years of absence, local media reported.

For several days, thousands of supporters of Mr. Gbagbo, who were impatiently waiting for his return to his country, stormed the airport.

In the morning, some were dispersed by tear gas from the police around the airport, according to the reports.

Born on 31 May 1945, Gbagbo was jailed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention centre in The Hague on 30 November 2011, as the first former head of state to be prosecuted before the court.

He was charged with four counts of crimes against humanity: murder, rape, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

In 2010, following the presidential election of 28 November, Côte d'Ivoire plunged into a post-electoral crisis after Mr. Gbagbo's refusal to recognise the victory of Alassane Ouattara. The violence left more than 3,000 people dead in five months.

Mr. Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé, former leader of the Young Patriots movement, pleaded not guilty throughout the trial.

On 15 January 2019, they were acquitted by the ICC. This decision was confirmed on 31 March 2021, giving them the right to freedom and a return to the country.

-0- PANA TNDD/JSG/MTA/AR 17June 2021