ICC acquits former Ivory Coast president

By Munira Abdelmenan Awel

ANKARA (AA) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday acquitted former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and the then youth minister of all charges and ordered their immediate release.

"Having thoroughly analysed the evidence, the Chamber concluded by majority that the Prosecutor has failed to demonstrate several core constitutive elements of the crimes as charged," said a statement issued by the ICC.

The Chamber also decided that Gbagbo and Charles Ble Goude don't need to submit further evidence to defend themselves and ordered their release, the statement said.

Post-electoral violence in 2010-2011 had resulted in the death of some 3,000 people in the West African nation, according to UN figures.

Gbagbo had refused to recognize the victory of his rival and current President Alassane Ouattara in the November 2010 presidential election.

Since late 2011, the ICC has been trying Gbagbo and Ble Goude due to their alleged role in the violence.

In 2018, Ouattara pardoned 800 prisoners, including former First Lady Simone Gbagbo, who was serving a 20-year prison sentence for undermining national security.