Gbagbo's wife becomes first woman to face ICC charges

Simone Gbagbo faces charges including murder, rape and persecution (AFP)

The International Criminal Court yesterday indicted former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo’s wife, Simone, on charges including murder, rape and persecution. It was the first time in the court’s 10-year history it has charged a woman.

Laurent Gbagbo is already in custody at The Hague facing similar charges stemming from his fight to retain power after his 2010 election defeat. If his wife is extradited, they could face justice in an unprecedented husband-wife trial.

But a senior member of Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara’s government said it had already informed the ICC it will not let her go. ICC judges said they had found “reasonable grounds” to believe Ms Gbagbo was “an indirect co-perpetrator”.