Laurent Gbagbo on trial at ICC

Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo becomes the first ex-head of state to stand trial at the world’s only permanent war crimes court, five years after triggering political unrest that left 3,000 dead

Nov 2010: Presidential election run-off takes place between incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and old rival Alassane Ouattara

Dec: UN endorses Ouattara as winner – Gbagbo refuses to concede defeat. Dispute between two camps soon escalates into violence

Apr 2011: Gbagbo forced from power and arrested by troops loyal to Ouattara, backed by UN and French soldiers

More than 3,000 people are massacred and 500,000 displaced during crisis

May: Ouattara inaugurated as president

Nov: Gbagbo handed over to International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague

Jan 2013: Gbagbo’s former militia chief Charles Ble Goude captured – transferred to ICC

Mar 2015: Former first lady, Simone Gbagbo, sentenced in Abidjan to 20 years in prison for role in violence that followed presidential election in 2010

Jan 28, 2016: Gbagbo, 70, and Ble Goude, 43, face crimes against humanity charges at ICC for unrest triggered by Gbagbo’s bid to cling on to power in 2010

MALI

Guinea

LIBERIA

BURKINA FASO

COTE D’IVOIRE

Yamoussoukro

Abidjan

Gulf of GUINEA 

GHANA

200km 125 miles

Source: ICC

Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images