After the acquittal of the former President of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, the indictment of the International Criminal Court has prevented the release of the politician for the time being. Judges of the Appeals Chamber ordered in The Hague that Gbagbo must remain in prison for the time being. They scheduled a new hearing on the release on 1 February.
The 73-year-old ex-president and a former minister were surprisingly acquitted this week before the trial ended. According to the judges, the prosecution's evidence for crimes against humanity was inadequate for conviction.
The judges also ordered the immediate release. However, the indictment of the International Criminal Court objected. She fears that Gbagbo will no longer appear in a possible appeal against the acquittal.
After the 2010 presidential election, Gbagbo had not acknowledged his defeat. The following wave of violence killed around 3,000 people. The trial of Gbagbo started in 2016. He has been in prison since 2011.