The Prosecutor v. Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé
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The Blé Goudé case and Gbagbo case were joined on 11 March 2015. The trial 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. 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.
On 31 March 2021, the Appeals Chamber confirmed, by majority, the acquittal decision of 15 January 2019.
Next steps: The acquittal of Mr Gbagbo and Mr Blé Goudé is now final. The Appeals Chamber revoked all conditions on the release of Mr Gbagbo and Mr Blé Goudé. The Chamber directed the ICC Registrar to make arrangements for the safe transfer of Mr Gbagbo and Mr Blé Goudé to a receiving State or States.
Questions and Answers on the Appeals judgment: English; French
Appeals Chamber
Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut
(President Judge)
Judge Piotr Hofmański
Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza
Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa
Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze
Office of the Prosecutor
Defence
Counsel for Laurent Gbagbo
Emmanuel Altit
Agathe Bahi BaroanCounsel for Charles Blé Goudé
Geert-Jan Alexander Knoops
Claver N’dry
Legal Representatives of the Victims
Paolina Massidda
Declaration accepting ICC jurisdiction
Côte d’Ivoire, which is not party to the Rome Statute, accepts the jurisdiction of the ICCOriginal: Français
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Declaration confirmed
The Presidency of Côte d'Ivoire reconfirmed the country’s acceptance of the ICC jurisdiction
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Request to investigate "proprio motu" in Côte d'Ivoire
OTP requests authorization from Pre-Trial Judges to open an investigation on its own initiative (proprio motu) in Côte d'Ivoire
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Investigations begin in Côte d'Ivoire
Pre-Trial Judges authorize OTP to open investigation proprio motu in Côte d’Ivoire, for alleged crimes committed since 28 November 2010
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Arrest warrant requested for Gbagbo
OTP submits application to Pre-Trial Judges requesting arrest warrant for Laurent Gbagbo (Gbagbo)
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Arrest warrant issued under seal for Gbagbo
Pre-Trial Judges issue arrest warrant under seal for Gbagbo.Press release
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Mr Gbagbo in ICC custody; arrest warrant unsealed
Mr Gbagbo transferred and surrendered to the ICC through cooperation with authorities of Côte d'Ivoire; Pre-Trial Judges unseal arrest warrant.Press release
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Mr Gbagbo's first appearance
Audience de comparution initiale, 5 décembre 2011
ICC-CPI
Pre-Trial phase begins as Mr Gbagbo has first day in Court before Judges of Pre-Trial Chamber III.Photographs
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Arrest warrant requested for Blé Goudé, originally separate case
OTP submits application to Pre-Trial Judges requesting arrest warrant for Charles Blé Goudé (Blé Goudé), treated as separate from Gbagbo case until 11 March 2015.
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Arrest warrant issued under seal for Blé Goudé
Pre-Trial Judges issue arrest warrant under seal for Blé Goudé.
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Scope of investigation expanded
Pre-Trial Judges expand scope authorization for investigation to include between 19 September 2002 and 28 November 2010.
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Mr Gbagbo confirmation of charges hearing opens
Affaire Gbagbo, Audience de confirmation des charges, février 2013
ICC-CPI
Pre-Trial phase continues as Pre-Trial Judges open hearing to consider evidence in order to decide whether or not to confirm the charges and commit the Mr Gbagbo case to trial.PhotographsPress release
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Mr Gbagbo confirmation of charges hearing closes
Pre-Trial Judges to deliberate and decide in due course whether or not to confirm the charges and commit the Gbagbo case to trial.
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Arrest warrant for Mr Blé Goudé unsealed
Pre-Trial Judges unseal arrest warrant for mr Blé Goudé.Press release
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Mr Blé Goudé in ICC custody
Mr Blé Goudé transferred and surrendered to the ICC through cooperation with authorities of Côte d'Ivoire.Press release
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Mr Blé Goudé's first appearance
Première comparution de Charles Blé Goudé devant la CPI, 27 mars 2014
ICC-CPI
Pre-Trial phase begins as Mr Blé Goudé has first day in Court before Judges of Pre-Trial Chamber I.PhotographsPress release
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Decision: Charges confirmed against Mr Gbagbo
Affaire Laurent Gbagbo : Programme "Demandez à la Cour", 12 juin 2014
ICC-CPI
Pre-Trial Judges confirm charges, Mr Gbagbo trial to begin in due course: Trial phase begins.Press release
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Blé Goudé's confirmation of charges hearing opens
"Dans la salle d'audience" / Affaire Blé Goudé : Audience de confirmation des charges
ICC-CPI
Pre-Trial phase continues as Pre-Trial Judges open hearing to consider evidence in order to decide whether or not to confirm the charges and commit the Blé Goudé case to trial.PhotographsPress release
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Mr Blé Goudé's confirmation of charges hearing closes
Pre-Trial Judges to deliberate and decide in due course whether or not to confirm the charges and commit the Blé Goudé case to trial.
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Decision: Charges confirmed against Mr Blé Goudé, case committed to trial
Affaire Blé Goudé: Programme "Actualité de la Cour", 11 décembre 2014
ICC-CPI
Pre-Trial Judges confirm charges, Mr Blé Goudé trial to begin in due course: Trial phase begins.Press release
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Cases joined: Gbagbo and Blé Goudé
Trial Chamber I joined the two cases in order to ensure the efficacy and expeditiousness of the proceedings. The Chamber will set the trial date in due course.
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Trial begins
Trial phase: Gbagbo and Blé Goudé trial opens before Trial Chamber IPress release
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