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12 Things You Didn’t Know About Simone Gbagbo

12 Things You Didn’t Know About Simone Gbagbo

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Simone Gbagbo, the former first lady of Côte d’Ivoire, has recently been thrust into the international spotlight under charges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. The situation was further complicated when Côte d’Ivoire refused to turn her over, saying it will try her on similar charges in a domestic court. Here are 12 things you didn’t know about Simone Gbagbo, and the ongoing case.

Sources: Reuters.com, TVCNews.com, HRW.org, AllAfrica.com, AlJazeera.com, TheAtlantic.com, NewsTimeAfrica.com

TheRisingContinent.Wordpress.com
TheRisingContinent.Wordpress.com

She was born one of 18 children

Born and raised in the Moossou neighborhood of what was then considered French West Africa, Simone was one of 18 children. Her father, Jean Ehivet, was a local police officer.

News.Abidjan.net
News.Abidjan.net

Simone is a trained historian

Simone studied history, earning a third-cycle doctorate in oral literature. She went on to work in applied linguistics and was a leader of a Marxist labor union before becoming first lady of Côte d’Ivoire when her husband, Laurent Gbagbo, became president in October 2000.

NYTimes.com
NYTimes.com

She has been nicknamed the “Hillary Clinton des tropiques”

Simone played a prominent role during her husband’s presidency, earning the nickname by the Ivorian press, “Hillary Clinton des tropiques,” or “Hillary Clinton of the tropics.” She first became involved in politics while participating in a teachers strike movement in 1982. She helped found a clandestine political group along with her future husband, Laurent Gbagbo, which would become the ruling party during his presidency, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI). During her time as first lady, she was also occasionally referred to as Côte d’Ivoire’s “Iron Lady.”

AMICC.org
AMICC.org

She was accused of playing a role in leading Côte d’Ivoire into a civil war

During Côte d’Ivoire’s civil war, an estimated 3,000 people died. Laurent Gbagbo refused to relinquish power to President Alassane Ouattara, winner of the 2010 presidential election. Human Rights Watch estimates that another 150 women were raped, and attacks were carried out along political, ethnic, and religious lines.

BBC.co.uk
BBC.co.uk

She is the first woman to be indicted by the ICC

The former Ivorian first lady is the first woman to be indicted by the ICC. She is being held in Côte d’Ivoire on charges of genocide. Simone was a leading figure in her husband’s FPI party while he was president, and was arrested in 2011 after being captured by pro-Ouattara fighters. It is rare for somebody outside the formal hierarchies of power to be held responsible for government actions.

IvoireJustice.net
IvoireJustice.net

Simone’s case is thought to represent a change in the role of gender in international justice

She is the first woman to be charged by the ICC, and international observers have begun to comment on the changing perception of gender in the international justice system. William Burke-White of The Atlantic said, “The indictment is, therefore, an important symbol of unfortunate fact from a humanitarian perspective: women, as well as men, plan and commit horrific acts of violence.”

Source: TheAtlantic.com

CameroonVoice.com
CameroonVoice.com

Simone has been under house arrest leading up to her expected trial

While her husband and an associate, Charles Ble Goude, remain in a detention center in the Netherlands awaiting trial in the ICC’s court in The Hague, Simone has been under house arrest in Côte d’Ivoire. She was recently brought to the commercial capital Abidjan ahead of her expected trial.

Independent.co.uk
Independent.co.uk

The ICC cannot try cases if domestic authorities are already doing so

In 2003, Côte d’Ivoire’s government, under then-President Laurent Gbagbo, gave the ICC jurisdiction over some events that occurred in the country after Sept. 19, 2002. President Ouattara reaffirmed this declaration in 2010 and 2011, and the ICC opened an investigation in October 2011 into the events following the 2010 election.

LadepechedAbidjan.info
LadepechedAbidjan.info

The ICC and Côte d’Ivoire are not prosecuting Simone for the same crimes

In question in Simone’s case is whether or not Côte d’Ivoire is trying her on sufficient charges. She has been charged by Côte d’Ivoire with crimes against humanity including genocide. ICC judges, however, say Côte d’Ivoire and the ICC are not charging her for the same crimes. The ICC says killings, rapes, and acts causing great suffering or serious injury to people are not being considered. If Côte d’Ivoire refuses to turn Simone over, and ICC member states vote to carry out the ICC indictment, the country could face sanctions.

LadepechedAbidjan.info
LadepechedAbidjan.info

Côte d’Ivoire has charged Simone with a litany of crimes

Along with her 82 co-defendants, Simone has been charged with undermining state security, attacking or plotting against the authority of the state, forming armed groups and directing or participating in an insurrection that endangered public order, among others. Simone and several others have also been charged with alleged international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Source: AllAfrica.com

TVCNews.net
TVCNews.net

Simone was transferred to a medical facility over health problems leading up to her trial

Simone’s lawyer, Habiba Toure, cited “a total lack of medical attention” during her house arrest that severely damaged her health. She was hospitalized in Abidjan with an unspecified ailment leading up to her trial.

LecridAbidjan.net
LecridAbidjan.net

Her initial trial was delayed as her defense team needed further preparation time

Simone’s trial for crimes against the state in Côte d’Ivoire was set to begin in October 2014, but was delayed after her defense team asked for an extension to prepare. She was set to be tried along with more than 80 codefendants.