Lawyer for the former first lady of Ivory Coast Habiba Toure has said that his client who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court ICC is in critical condition in hospital in the capital Abidjan.

Simone Gbagbo is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in the disputed elections in 2010 between his husband Laurent Gbagbo and President Alassane Ouattara.

Simone Gbagbo was a leading figure in her husband Laurent’s FPI party while he was president of Ivory Coast and many believe she was the reason behind his husband refusing to step down after loosing to Mr. Ouattara.

Laurent Gbagbo is standing trial at The Hague and he has been in detention at The Hague since 2010 awaiting trial.

Lawyer Habiba Toure said Simone Gbagbo was rushed to hospital on Thursday with an unspecified ailment which needs to be treated in a good facility.

“The health problems were sufficiently serious to require her immediate transfer to a facility with the sufficient means to treat her,” lawyer Habiba Toure told reporters.

Simone Gbagbo, 63, is being held in Ivory Coast on accusations of genocide last year and she has become the first woman on record to be indicted by the International Criminal Court.

The International Criminal Court warrant against Simone alleges that she was criminally responsible for murder, rape, and other forms of sexual violence, other inhumane acts and persecution during the disputed elections in 2010 which resulted in a long stand conflict.

But the government said her health problems cannot be link to her detention as she is being treated well even in detention.

“When you are in custody, it’s not a five-star hotel… Every time she gets a cold you can’t go and say it’s linked to her detention conditions,” Information and government spokesman Bruno Kone said.

President Alassane Ouattara’s government has yet to announce whether it will hand over Simone, who has been held in the isolated town of Odienne since her arrest. Toure said “a total lack of medical attention” during her confinement had damaged her health.

Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat to Alassane Ouattara in the 2010 election which resulted in violence that killed more than 3,000 people and displaced many others.

French backed pro-Ouattara fighters captured Laurent Gbagbo in 2011 which ended the long stand conflict allowing Mr. Ouattara to take office as president of the Ivory Coast.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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