Former Ivorean minister jialed for civil war killings

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 22:00:00 +0000

A former Ivory Coast minister’s been jailed for 20 year for his part in a killing during his country’s second civil war six years ago.

The West African country’s Attorney General maintains sometimes the accomplice is more dangerous than the perpetrator of a crime.

Former Public Works Minister Hubert Ouylaye allegedly funded an attack that killed 18 people including seven United Nations peacekeepers.

He supported Laurent Gbagbo, who’s refusal to accept electoral defeat started the war 2011.

Gbagbo’s currently on trial at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Oulaye maintains the trial was political and he’s appealing the verdict and sentence.

Legal analysts say it’s undermining President Alassane Ouattara’s bid to achieve reconciliation after the conflict that left more than 3000 dead.

Ivorean Iron Lady jailed

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:00:00 +0000

Simone Gbagbo, the wife of defeated Ivory Coast President Laurent been jailed for 20 years.

She’s been found guilty in Abidjan of undermining state security in the aftermath of 2010 elections when her husband refused to acknowledge defeat.

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo is in The Hague awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court.

The ICC wanted to put his wife Simone in the there dock too, but Ivorean authorities refused – preferring to try her themselves.

More than 3 000 people died in the violence that followed President Alassane Ouattara’s victory.

Simone who’d been dubbed the Iron Lady is found guilty of disturbing public order and organising armed gangs.

Her sentence is twice as long as prosecutors asked for.

Her lawyer says they’ll appeal.