The joint trial of Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé continued on Tuesday, December 5, in The Hague. The audience of the day was marked by a moment of emotion featuring the boss of the former Patriotic Galaxy.
On the second day of testimony by Sira Dramé, a Rassemblement des Républicains (RDR) activist and Abobo City Councilor, was marked by a moving scene.
In fact, this Tuesday, December 5, 2017, the prosecution witness was questioned by Charles Blé Goudé’s lawyers on the massacre that occurred during the post-electoral crisis in the village of Anonkoua-Kouté in Abobo Municipality.
Shortly after the Ivorian Television report was broadcast at the request of Séri Zokou, Charles Blé Goudé’s lawyer, Laurent Gbagbo’s last Minister for Youth and co-accused could not hold back his tears. The former boss of the Student and School Federation of Côte d’Ivoire (FESCI) literally broke down, so much so that the members of the court all turned around when the accused started crying quite loudly.
Before this scene, Sira Dramé continued her testimony before the judges. Questioned about several events in Côte d’Ivoire blamed on pro-Ouattara forces, the ruling party activist gave answers.
“No Sir, I have never heard of it,” said Sira Dramé when she was asked about the death of Adjanou dancers, the Duékoué massacres. Regarding the events at Anonkoua Kouté, the prosecution witness made the following comment: “I know that the village was attacked but by whom, I do not know.”
The trial continues on Wednesday, December 6, with a new prosecution witness.
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Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé are charged with four counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, and other inhumane acts, or – in the alternative – attempted murder and persecution. The accused allegedly committed these crimes during post-electoral violence in Côte d’Ivoire between December 16, 2010 and April 12, 2011.
This summary comes from Ivoire Justice, which offers monitoring and commentary on the ICC’s proceedings arising from the post-election violence that occurred in Cote d’Ivoire in 2010-2011. It has been translated into English for use on International Justice Monitor.