The news that former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo, was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and transferred to The Hague spread like wildfire in Ivory Coast. In the press, as well as on the streets of the Abidjan, the Ivorian people are clearly divided regarding the fate of their former head of state.

By Selay Marius Kouassi, Abidjan

Divergence in the press
Although it was officially announced on the 8pm news by the Ivorian Deputy Public Prosecutor, it was only the next morning that most Ivorians learned about the arrest and transfer of their former president, Laurent Gbagbo, to the ICC in The Hague. The news was in the headlines of every newspaper in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan.

“Gbagbo: the end”, was the title of the pro-Ouattara newspaper, Le Patriote, while the headline of pro-Gbagbo paper, Notre Voie, read: “Ouattara hands over Gbagbo to the ICC: goodbye reconciliation”. Never has news about Laurent Gbagbo sparked so many passionate reactions both in the press and on the streets.

Reactions on the streets
“I am not surprised by the ICC’s decision to indict Laurent Gbagbo, I actually welcome it. He has to answer to the charges against him”, explains Coulibaly Adama, a Ouattara supporter who lives in Abobo, a neighbourhood known as a support base for the current president, Alassane Ouattara.

Adama and his friends share a similar position on the issue. “Trying Gbagbo in the Ivory Coast would have exacerbated tensions and led to renewed conflicts in the country”, he insists.

Apohi Hermann strongly disagrees. Angry and bitter, this fervent Gbagbo supporter explains: “I was hoping that Gbagbo would be released soon or at least be tried by an Ivorian court and then given amnesty in order to facilitate the reconciliation process. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I am concerned about the future”. To Hermann and his friends, the news of Gbagbo’s transfer to The Hague came as a shock. They’ve continuously denounced the fact that no one from the Ouattara camp was arrested, although the current president was also involved in the crisis.

“This is a case of victor’s justice and it’s a shame for the new authorities in Ivory Coast as well as a failure for our justice system. The Ivorian justice system could have tried Gbagbo here, in Ivory Coast, just like Gaddafi’s son will be tried in Libya”, regrets Hermann.

Politicians also divided
The news of Gbagbo’s indictment and transfer to The Hague has deeply divided political actors in the Ivory Coast. Member of Parliament, Yao Yao Jules, who organised a meeting to demand the liberation of the former Ivorian head of state, is adamant: “Transferring Gbagbo to the ICC was unjust! This is revenge. That’s all I can say”. Yao Yao Jules is also one of the leaders of the FPI (Front Populaire Ivoirien), the party of former president, Laurent Gbagbo.

For Affoussy Bamba, former spokesperson and now adviser to Alassane Ouattara, “Gbagbo’s transfer to the ICC was the next logical step after his indictment for economic crimes”.

Blurry future
In Abidjan, there are growing fears that Gbago’s transfer to The Hague might disrupt political life in the country and threaten the already fragile reconciliation process.

In protest against the transfer of Laurent Gbagbo to the ICC, Mel Théodore, Kabran Appia and Gervais Coulibaly - opposition leaders who supported Gagbo in the elections last year, decided to withdraw their candidatures from this year’s legislative elections.

The FPI has also called all its members to abstain from voting in the legislative elections, which are scheduled to take place on December 11.

'Arbitrary'
Furthermore, the youth from Gbagbo’s party are organising a massive rally to protest against the transfer which they regard as “arbitrary”.

Koua Justin, the Interim National Secretary of the FPI Youth League declared: “I am calling for a mass mobilisation of people this Saturday […] We are going do everything in our power to make sure that true justice is rendered!”

Despite Gbagbo’s transfer to the ICC and the general outcry by his supporters, high ranking officials of the former regime, who were in exile in neighbouring Ghana, are returning to Ivory Coast. Their return gives hope to the Ivorian population living in fear that deadly conflicts may resurface again.