[JURIST] The International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] on Thursday confirmed charges [decision, PDF; press release] against former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo [BBC profile; JURIST news archive], referring him for trial. Gbagbo faces four charges of crimes against humanity including murder, rape and persecution. After reviewing evidence, including statements from more than 100 witnesses and 22,000 pages of documents, the pre-trial chamber concluded that there is sufficient evidence to support Gbagbo’s criminal responsibility for violence following his 2010 election defeat. Gbagbo remains in detention [JURIST report], and a trial has yet to be scheduled.

The ICC issued a warrant for Gbagbo’s arrest on charges of crimes against humanity [JURIST report] in November 2011. In November 2010 Gbagbo ran for reelection against former prime minister Alassane Ouattara [BBC profile]. The EU recognized that Ouattara defeated Gbagbo, but Gbagbo refused to concede victory. Gbagbo has been accused [JURIST report] of starting a civil war after losing the presidency, which resulted in 3,000 deaths and one million people displaced.