Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo will Monday ask the International Criminal Court to acquit him of crimes against humanity and free him after seven years in detention .
Gbagbo, 73 , is the first – ever head of state to be handed over to the Hague -based ICC , where he has been on trial since 2016 .
He faces four counts of crimes against humanity for his role in fomenting a wave of post- electoral violence eight years ago in the West African nation.
After more than two years on trial , Gbagbo’ s lawyers believe the prosecution failed to prove the charges and are demanding a “ full dismissal, an acquittal on all charges ” and Gbagbo’ s immediate release .
“ We are confident that president Laurent Gbagbo will be acquitted , released and will be able to return to his country, ” said Justin Koua , the youth chairman of a coalition of political parties including Gbagbo’ s own Ivorian Popular Front (FPI ) as well as civil society groups .
“ Mr Gbagbo is suffering an injustice , ” he told AFP.
Defence lawyers also want the same for Gbagbo’ s right – hand man Charles Ble Goude, 46 , leader of the “ Young Patriots” group which allegedly murdered and raped hundreds of people in order to keep Gbagbo in charge.
Judges joined the two men ’ s cases before trial started and both pleaded not guilty .
– ‘ Clung to power ’ –
On Monday the court ’ s proceedings are set to be televised on a giant screen in an Abidjan neighbourhood stronghold of Gbagbo and Ble Goude .
Several opposition figures are expected to attend the event billed as the “ last steps before an acquittal ” for the two leaders .
But the Ivorian state has blasted the move.
The former Ivorian head of state is preparing to demand a dismissal even before the trial is completed and defence witnesses have been heard , ” the Ivorian state ’ s lawyers said in a statement .
“ It’ s a bluff , ” the lawyers said .
Unrest wracked Ivory Coast for five months from December 2010 until early 2011 , after Gbagbo refused to accept his internationally- recognised defeat by bitter rival Alassane Ouattara .
The crisis — which saw both sides level allegations of gross abuses — paralysed the world ’ s largest cocoa producer and west African powerhouse for several months. About 3 , 000 people died when rival supporters clashed on the streets of Abidjan , which was then one of West Africa ’ s most cosmopolitan cities.
After a months- long standoff , Gbagbo was arrested by Ouattara ’ s troops aided by UN and French forces , and turned over to the ICC in 2011 .
Prosecutors maintain Gbagbo clung to power “ by all means” and that the long – time leader conspired with Ble Goude to orchestrate a plan to stay in power even before he was narrowly defeated by Ouattara .
Defence lawyers, however , say the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt , despite 82 witnesses testifying , thousands of documents of evidence and hundreds of hours of video .
If the judges indeed decide to free Gbagbo he could soon be following in his wife Simone Gbagbo’ s footsteps.
Known as the “Iron Lady ” , Simone Gbagbo walked away from a 20 – year jail term in August when she was amnestied by Ouattara after seven years in detention .
