{UAH} Ivory Coast’s former first lady sentenced to 20 years

Ivory Coast's former first lady sentenced to 20 years

By Stanley Azuakola on March 11, 2015 — The former first lady of Ivory Coast, Simone Gbagbo, was on Tuesday sentenced to 20 years in jail for the role she played in the 2010 post-election violence

Former Ivorian first lady Simone Gbagbo

The 65-year old 'Iron Lady' was accused of undermining state security, disturbing public order and organising armed gangs.

She was arrested in 2011 alongside her husband, former President Laurent Gbagbo, after UN and French troops raided a bunker where they hid. The former president is now awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his own role in the violence, which led to more than 3,000 deaths when he refused to accept defeat to incumbent president, Alassane Ouattara.

Even though the prosecution asked for a ten-years sentence, the Abidjan court unanimously sentenced her to 20 years, which is the maximum sentence for undermining state security.

Gbagbo's lawyer, who said he was ashamed of the Ivorian judicial system, has disclosed that the sentence would be appealed. Gbagbo's daughter from a previous marriage, Marie Antoinette Singleton, told the BBC that the 20-year sentence was unfair.

"Why would you want to double it? It's not about justice; it's about getting rid of political adversaries," she said.

Apart from Gbagbo, two former military chiefs – Gen Bruno Dogbo Ble, once head of the Republic Guard, and the ex-navy chief Admiral Vagba Faussignaux – also received 20-year jail terms. However, 15 of the 82 people who stood trial alongside the former first lady were acquitted.

Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara is however facing some criticism over the fact that despite his promise that both sides would face justice over roles played in that deadly 2010 violence, his government has not charged any of his supporters.

Source: BBC

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

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