Simone Gbagbo trial: Ivory Coast’s former first lady sentenced to 20 years in jail

Ivory Coast’s former First Lady Simone Gbagbo has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found responsible for the 2010 post-election tragedy.

Simone Gbagbo, 65, had been charged with undermining state security.

Her husband, Ivory Coast’s former President Laurent Gbagbo, is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

More than 3,000 people died in the violence that followed the presidential poll after ex-leader Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat to Alassane Ouattara.

Simone and Laurent Gbagbo were arrested in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker where the pair had taken refuge in the main city, Abidjan.

It was in the same city where Simone Gbagbo – once called the “Iron Lady” – faced trial. She was also accused of disturbing public order and organizing armed gangs.

The court unanimously sentenced her to 20 years, twice as long as the prosecutors had asked for.

Simone Gbagbo’s lawyer said they would appeal.

Laurent Gbagbo, is facing four charges at the ICC in The Hague, including murder, rape and persecution.

The ICC had issued an arrest warrant for Simone Gbagbo too, but this was dismissed by the Ivorian government.

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