Ivory Coast will hand Charles Blé Goudé, a former youth leader and close ally of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he is wanted on charges of crimes against humanity, the justice minister said Thursday.

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“The cabinet has agreed to send Blé Goudé to the International Criminal Court,” Gnenema Mamadou Coulibaly told reporters. “We are going to study how to quickly execute this decision.”

The ICC said in October it had issued an arrest warrant for Blé Goudé – who headed the notorious Young Patriots street militia during Gbagbo’s presidency – for his alleged role in violence following a disputed 2010 general election.

Gbagbo, who refused to give up power after losing a presidential runoff the same year, has been in the ICC’s custody since November 2011, accused of responsibility for rapes, murders, persecution and inhuman acts.

Goudé had requested to be tried by an Ivorian court instead of being sent to the Hague.

The ICC has been criticised by some African governments, which say it unfairly targets the continent.

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)

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