23.11.12 - WEEKLY SUMMARY - ARREST WARRANT AGAINST SIMONE GBAGBO UNSEALED, ICC TO DELIVER SECOND VERDICT

Arusha, November 23, 2012 (FH) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to unseal an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity against Simone Gbagbo, requesting her transfer to The Hague, while the same Court announced it would hand down two separate verdicts in the cases of former Congolese militia leaders, Mathieu Ngudjolo and Germain Katanga.

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ICC

Warrant of arrest against Gbagbo’s wife unsealed: Judges of the International Criminal Court Thursday unsealed an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity against the former First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Simone Gbagbo. The warrant of arrest which was initially issued on February 29, 2012, charges Simone Gbagbo with crimes against humanity committed between December 16, 2010 and April 12, 2011. While Laurent Gbagbo is currently in jail at the ICC, his wife Simone is detained in northern Côte d’Ivoire by the new authorities.

Former Congolese militia leaders to receive separate verdicts: The International Criminal Court Wednesday decided to hand down two separate verdicts in the cases of Mathieu Ngudjolo and Germain Katanga, Congolese former militia leaders who have been tried together for crimes against humanity. The verdict on Ngudjolo is due on December 18, while that of Katanga is not likely to take place before spring 2013.The two are accused of command responsibility for crimes against humanity committed in Bogoro, in Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on February 24, 2003.

ICC‘s assembly of state parties concluded meeting: The International Criminal Court, Assembly of state parties, which represents the states that have ratified the Rome Statute that established the court , Wednesday concluded its 11th meeting. The assembly among others adopted a budget of 112 million Euros against a total of 118 Euros requested by the court.

ICC Prosecutor moves in to investigate M23 crimes: The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda Wednesday said her office was examining alleged crimes committed by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and urged states to arrest rebel leaders indicted by the Court. She warned that recent events “risk bringing violence to a higher level” in the troubled region.The M23 rebels are led by defectors from the Congolese army including Bosco Ntaganda, for whom the ICC issued an arrest warrant in 2006. It has also issued an arrest warrant for Sylvestre Mudacumura, commander of the FDLR rebel movement which is fighting the Rwandan government.

RWANDA

Mugesera trial set for December 17: A Rwandan court Monday postponed again the genocide trial of Léon Mugesera, nearly a year after he was extradited from Canada. Judges set December 17 as the new date for start of trial. This is to allow Mugesera’s Kenyan lawyer more time to prepare.Mugesera, a linguist and former politician, is accused of incitement to genocide in a 1992 speech. He was extradited from Canada after a 15-year battle against extradition.

NEXT WEEK

ICC

Bemba’s defence case continues :On Monday (November 26), there will be continuation 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.

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