IVORY COAST-SIMONE GBAGBO CASE Ivory Coast's former first lady, allies trial draws renewed calls for reconcilliation.

Record ID: 182787

  • Title: IVORY COAST-SIMONE GBAGBO CASE Ivory Coast's former first lady, allies trial draws renewed calls for reconcilliation.
  • Date: 23rd October 2014
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (OCTOBER 22, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS STREET SCENES/ CARS PASSING, PEOPLE WALKING VARIOUS OF INTERIOR COURTYARD, JUSTICE PALACE ABIDJAN MAN WALKING
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACJK7WWQUVFH7GJI8XJQXWICEK
  • Story Text: The trial of Ivory Coast's former first lady and leading opposition figures charged with committing economic crimes during the rule of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo was set to open on Wednesday (October 22) but reports say an unprepared defence and judges meant it did not take off as expected.
    Gbagbo, his wife Simone, and scores of his allies were arrested in the wake of a brief 2011 civil war. The conflict was sparked by Gbagbo's refusal to accept defeat to Alassane Ouattara in a presidential runoff election.
    The former president is now in The Hague charged with crimes against humanity and is awaiting trial before the International Criminal Court.
    However, the uncertain fate of Simone, who is also wanted by the ICC, and other senior members of Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party has remained an obstacle to national reconciliation.
    Analysts say this case will be a test for the Ivorian judicial system amid fears of impartiality. Critics accuse the government of prosecuting only Gbagbo's allies, leaving out suspects of abuses who were loyal to Ouattara.
    "When we talk about national reconciliation, we should reconcile. We should free the people, and we should let them live free in peace, and then we will reconcile. But without reconciliation or freedom, we cannot reconcile. Why shouldn't we free them? We try them.... I don't like this process," said Diabate Mohammed, a musician in Abidjan.
    "I agree that we judge them at the Hague because the judges here are not competent. Because today we see everything that happens with the justice system. We see that here it wouldn't be a clean trial, so that the hearts of the Ivorians are at peace," said Gleou Jean Marcial, a businessman.
    "Justice must be done, and if there are irregularities, we try to sort them out. So that we all have a bit of peace and that Ivorians are aware of everything that is going on," said Kouame Romeo, a priest.
    "We would like the trial to be balanced, and that we forgive everyone who has done bad things, and that we follow this trial with a view to reconciliation, so that it doesn't bring even more problems in Ivory Coast," said Gnali Diomonde.
    Simone Gbagbo is charged with genocide for her role in the 2011 conflict, which killed around 3,000 people.
    Though largely praised for a rapid revival of Ivory Coast's economy, Ouattara, now president, has been accused of not doing enough to heal the wounds of a decade-long political crisis.
    Under pressure form human rights organisations, Ouattara released more than a dozen of Gbagbo's top allies from prison last year pending trial.
    The government later announced it would not hand Simone Gbagbo over to the ICC and would instead try her in a domestic court. She remains under house arrest.
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