Gbagbo and Blé Goudé Case: ICC Appeals Chamber to deliver appeals judgment on 31 March 2021 - Practical information

On Wednesday 31 March 2021 at 15:00 (The Hague local time), the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will deliver its judgment on the Prosecutor's appeal against the acquittal decision in the case The Prosecutor v. Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé.

The judgment will be read out in public by the Appeals Chamber, composed of Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, Presiding judge on this appeal, Judge Howard Morrison, Judge Piotr Hofmański, Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza and Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions the judgment will be delivered on a partially virtual basis, with participation either from the seat of the Court, or from separate locations outside the Court.

On 15 January 2019, Trial Chamber I acquitted Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé from all charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Côte d'Ivoire in 2010 and 2011. On 16 September 2019, the Prosecutor filed a notice of appeal against this decision.

Scheduling Order for the delivery of Judgment in the appeal of the Prosecutor against Trial Chamber I's decision on the no case to answer motions

Webstreaming of the hearing:

The hearing can be followed live on the ICC website, in English, French and Floor (Courtroom 3); in French on the ICC YouTube Channel and in English and French on the ICC Facebook accounts.

Attending the hearing:

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to the Court's premises is restricted to protect the safety and well-being of users. A limited number of public and media representatives will be granted access to the hearing at the seat of the Court, following measures against coronavirus including wearing a mask and keeping a distance of 1.5 metres.

• Members of the diplomatic corps, NGOs and other members of the public can request attendance via email to: [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Attendees must present a valid passport or valid ID with a photo at the main entrance of the Court (at: Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK The Hague).
  

• Journalists wishing to cover the hearing can request accreditation via email to: [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. All journalists must present a valid press card, and a valid passport or valid ID with a photo, at the main entrance of the Court (at: Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK The Hague).
  

Individuals who have not received a confirmation in advance of the hearing will not be granted access to the building. Those attending are advised to arrive 20 minutes in advance before the hearing starts.

AV materials:

Images of the hearing will be available for download in video (MPEG-4) and audio (MPEG-3) format, and for viewing on the official ICC YouTube Channel.

Photographs of the hearing will be available on the ICC Flickr account. For information on audio-visual matters, please contact [email protected]

Background: The trial in this case began on 28 January 2016. On 15 January 2019, Trial Chamber I, by majority, acquitted Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé from all charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Côte d'Ivoire in 2010 and 2011. On 1 February 2019, the Appeals Chamber set conditions to be imposed on Mr Gbagbo and Mr Blé Goudé upon their release to a State willing to accept them on its territory and willing and able to enforce the conditions set by the Chamber. Mr Gbagbo and Mr Blé Goudé are not in the ICC detention centre anymore following their release with conditions.

On 16 July 2019, Trial Chamber I filed the written full reasons for the acquittal of Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé. On 16 September 2019, the Prosecutor filed a notice of appeal against this decision. From 22 to 24 June 2020, the Appeals Chamber held hearings to hear the observations of Parties and Participants on the Prosecutor's appeal against the acquittal decision.

For further information on this case, please click here.

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected]

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