ICC
Judge refuses second request for Gbagbo’s bail: On Monday, the Court rejected a second attempt by former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to obtain provisional release. A Single Judge ordered him to remain in custody after refusing to review the Court‘s earlier ruling of July 13. She was satisfied that there were no changed circumstances since the decision on Interim Release that affected Gbagbo’s detention.
Bemba calls from jail for unity in DRC: Former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba Monday called from his prison cell in The Hague for his compatriots to end the war in the east of their country. In a message from his cell, Bemba appealed to the government in Kinshasa to put an end to war and insecurity in the region and to protect the civilian population. Bemba called for reconciliation and unity among Congolese, so as to save the endangered motherland.
Assembly of ICC States Parties opens: The Assembly of States Parties of the Court opened on Wednesday in The Hague, following a ceremony to mark ten years of the ICC. The eleventh session of the Assembly, which will continue until November 22, will focus on cooperation, budget and election issues. On election, the 121 countries that have ratified the ICC Statute are expected to vote for several officials, including a Deputy Prosecutor from three candidates proposed by Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
RWANDA
Mugesera lawyer alleges mistreatment of his client:The defence lawyer of former Rwandan politician Léon Mugesera claimed on Thursday that his client was being mistreated in a Kigali jail. Jean-Félix Rudakemwa said allegations of mistreatment sent to a Canadian newspaper and published on Wednesday, which includes death threats, rotten food, rats and bedbugs in his prison cell, were true. But Rwandan authorities strongly denied the allegations, calling them extreme nonsense.
NEXT WEEK
ICC
Presentation of Bemba’s defence case resumes: On Monday (November 19), there will be resumption of presentation of defence evidence in the case of Jean- Pierre Bemba, who is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.
RWANDA
Mugesera in court again: Rwandan scholar Léon Mugesera is to appear before the court on Monday (November 19) for the beginning of his case.
FK/GF