The jailed former first lady Simone Gbagbo has been granted amnesty by the president of Ivory Coast in what he says is a move to foster reconciliation. Mrs Gbagbo was among 800 people that President Alassane Ouattara pardoned.
You may recall that following the 2010 presidential election in Ivory Coast, Gbagbo challenged the results. He alleged fraud. Gbagbo called for the annulment of results from some of the country's regions. Despite his protests, however, Alassane Ouattara was declared the winner and was recognized as such by election observers, the international community, the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States.
Laurent Gbagbo
Surprisingly, the country's Constitutional Council declared that Gbagbo had won. A period of civil unrest followed in which more than 3,000 people died. Mr and Mrs Gbagbo were seized in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker where the pair had taken refuge in the main city, Abidjan.
The former first lady was accused of "attempting to undermine the security of the state", disturbing public order and organising armed gangs. She was sentenced to 20 years for her role in the violence.
After the conflict, Gbagbo was arrested by backers of Alassane Ouattara, supported by French Forces of "Operation Unicorn". In November 2011, he was extradited to the International Criminal Court, becoming the first head of state to be taken into the court's custody.
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