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The judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have submitted their written reasons for the acquittal of Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé, pronounced approximately six months ago.

For the two judges who pronounced the acquittal, which the third judge opposed, no crime against humanity was committed by Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé.

In their presentation, the magistrates first mentioned the “global disconnect” between the prosecution’s story and the evidence provided in the case, including the testimonies heard during the trial which began in January 2016. Two of the three magistrates considered that the prosecutor’s thesis was based “on uncertain and doubtful bases”, “a Manichean and simplistic story of an Ivory Coast described by the prosecutor as a polarized society” between pro Gbagbo activists and supporters of Alassane Ouattara , the two candidates competing in the second round of the November 2010 presidential election.

According to Radio France Internationale, Fatou Bensouda, the prosecutor has one month to appeal or not, but she asked for additional time until October 10. The chamber has not yet ruled on this point.

Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé were released on 1^er February after their acquittal on January 15, 2019. Their freedom is subject to conditions, including that of obtaining express authorization from the Court if they want to be able to travel to Côte d’Ivoire or elsewhere. Laurent Gbagbo is in Brussels, Charles Blé Goudé still resides in The Hague in an apartment, because no State has agreed to receive him on the basis of the principle according to which no conditions are imposed on an acquitted person.