Laurent Gbagbo, the former Ivory Coast president was arrested and taken to the Hague by the International Criminal Court this week. He is being prosecuted on four counts of crimes against humanity: murder, rape, sexual violence, persecution and other inhuman acts. Gbagbo will be tried for his responsibility in the attacks against civilians by forces acting on his behalf that took place between November 2010 and May 2011. Gbagbo is the first former head of state to be tried by the ICC since its inception in 2002.

The rape and sexual violence charges stem from the rape of nine women by groups of pro-Gbagbo militiamen and police officers. The women were members of Ouattara’s political party. According to Human Rights Watch, these attacks took place in the Ouattara stronghold of the Abobo neighbourhood on February 25th, one day after fighting armed forces between Gbagbo and Ouattara supporters escalated.

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Laurent  Gbagbo: International Criminal Court Charges Former Ivory Coast President with Crimes Against Humanity, Huffington Post, 30 November 2011

Gbagbo Faces Charges of Crimes Against Humanity: ICC, Reuters, 30 November 2011

Cote d’Ivoire: Crimes Against Humanity by Gbagbo Forces, Human Rights Watch, 15 March 2011

Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo Appears at ICC in Hague, BBC News, 5 December 2011