He said despite human weaknesses, Laurent Gbagbo don't deserve to have eight years of his life wasted by the machinations of former President of France, Nicholas Sarkozy and the Western allies.
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'Freed' Laurent Gbagbo is a true African patriot - Rawlings praises
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has welcome former President of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo who was set free by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.
Rawlings with Laurent Gbagbo
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In a tweet, Rawlings said "A true African patriot is free. Laurent Gbagbo, despite his human weakness, did not deserve to have eight years of his life wasted by the machinations of France and Sarkozy, and their Western allies. I hope this will serve as a new beginning for Cote d’Ivoire –a source of unity, not division; strength, not weakness!"
On trial since 2016, Gbagbo is the first-ever head of state to be handed over to the Hague-based ICC.
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He faces four counts of crimes against humanity for his role in fomenting a wave of post-electoral violence eight years ago in the west African nation.
Unrest wracked the Ivory Coast for five months from December 2010 until early 2011, after Gbagbo refused to accept his internationally-recognised defeat by his rival Alassane Ouattara.
Laurent Gbagbo freed
Pulse Ghana
The crisis - which saw both sides level allegations of gross abuses - paralysed the world's largest cocoa producer and west African powerhouse for several months.
About 3,000 people died when rival supporters clashed on the streets of Abidjan.
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ICC judges ruled that he had no case to answer because the prosecution had failed to prove several charges against him. They have ordered his immediate release.
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