Former Ivory Coast First Lady Simone Gbagbo Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Organising Post Election Violence

An Ivorian court today March 10th 2015 sentenced former Ivorian First Lady Mrs Simone Gbagbo to 20 years imprisonment for organizing post election violence after her husband, Laurent Gbagbo lost out in the 2010 Presidential elections.

The wife of former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo was also accused of “disturbing public order” and “organising armed gangs” after her husband and his supporters rejected results of the December 2010 presidential elections showing rival Alassane Ouattara had won the contest.

The court “unanimously” condemned her to 20 years in jail, court president Tahirou Dembele said in a statement Tuesday. Gbagbo’s face hardened as the verdict was read. She was “a little affected” by the sentence, her lawyer Me Rodrigue Dadje told newsmen.

“I am ashamed of Ivorian justice,” ………he said, adding that they would appeal the sentence. 

“We showed that impunity in Ivory Coast must not continue,” said state prosecutor Soungalo Coulibaly.

Laurent Gbagbo’s son Michel, a French-born dual national from a previous marriage, was also sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the violence.