Simone Gbagbo's trial resumes in Ivory Coast

A court in Ivory Coast was on Monday opened to try several cases of crimes committed during the post-electoral crisis, including that of Simone Gbagbo.

The former first lady will this time be tried for crimes against humanity.

According to her lawyers, the trial would begin at the end of May, this represents a challenge for the country’s justice, RIF reports.

#Côted’Ivoire: Trial of #SimoneGbagbo opens Amnesty https://t.co/sReClixGJH

— APO (APO_source) May 9, 2016

Based on a long time claim by victims of the post-electoral crisis and associations of human rights, the trial of Simone Gbagbo is without doubt one of the most expected of this new session of cases.

Last year, many shortcomings had been identified by observers at the first trial considered as unsatisfactory. The former first lady had then been sentenced to 20 years in prison for endangering the security of the State.

Prosecutors had appealed for a 10-year sentence. The trail was viewed as the biggest test faced by the post-crisis government of the West African Nation.

Violence broke out in Ivory Coast in 2010 when former president, Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, who was declared winner of a presidential poll.

Laurent Gbagbo has been held for three years in the Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

However, Ivorian authorities has repeatedly refused to hand his Simone Gbagbo over to the ICC on the same charge.

AGENCY