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The trial of former First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Simone Gbagbo, reopened in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Monday. The former First Lady is accused of carrying out crimes against humanity in the 2010-2011 post-election violence.

Also referred to as the Second Ivorien Civil War, more than 3,000 people were killed in the crisis that erupted when Mrs. Gbagbo's husband, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to relinquish power after losing the November 2010 election to former Prime Minister, Alassane Ouattara.

Simone Gbagbo was convicted on March 20, 2015 and sentenced to 20 years in imprison by a court in Côte d’Ivoire for her role in the violence. She was convicted for participating in an insurrectional movement, conspiracy against the State, and disturbing public order. But the trial was seen to be unsatisfactory, hence the retrial by a different court.

"Justice must be served in order to reconcile the population," said the prosecutor, Soungalo Coulibaly, on Monday.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant for her arrest on February 22, 2012, alleging that as a member of her husband's inner circle, she committed crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution and other inhuman acts.
 
However, the Ivorien government refused to honour the warrant, declaring that she would be tried in Côte d’Ivoire.

In a statement on Monday, Amnesty International called on the Ivorien government to immediately surrender Simone Gbagbo to the ICC. The human rights advocacy group, however, said should the government insist on trying her in Côte d’Ivoire, it must ensure the proceedings in the domestic court follow international human rights legal standards.

“If the domestic trial continues, Côte d’Ivoire must ensure its proceedings comply with international human rights law standards, including the right to a fair trial. Côte d’Ivoire must show the world it is serious about delivering post-conflict justice to victims of all crimes,” said Gaëtan Mootoo, West Africa researcher for Amnesty International.

Her husband, who was arrested on April 11, 2011 was taken to the ICC at The Hague on November 29, 2011. The former President Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé, an ally of Gbagbo’s and leader of a militant youth group, are currently on trial before the ICC for crimes against humanity in relation to the post-election violence.