“African President Arrested While Hiding In Presidential Bunker After He Refused to Step Down”
On April 11, 2011, Laurent Gbagbo was arrested after being found in a bunker at his presidential residence in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, following months of refusing to hand over power after the disputed 2010 election.
Gbagbo had been president since 2000. He rose to power after the controversial October 2000 election, following the 1999 military coup that brought General Robert Guéï to power.
The crisis that eventually ended his presidency began with the November 2010 election. The Electoral Commission declared Alassane Ouattara the winner with 54.1% of the vote, while Gbagbo received 45.9%. The United Nations, France, the United States, the African Union and other international bodies recognised Ouattara as the winner.
However, Côte d’Ivoire’s Constitutional Council cancelled votes from several northern areas and declared Gbagbo the winner with 51.45%. Both men then claimed the presidency and formed separate governments.
Gbagbo remained in control of the state institutions in Abidjan, while Ouattara operated his government from the Golf Hotel, which was protected by UN forces.
The standoff soon turned into violent conflict. Ouattara’s forces, known as the Forces Républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire, advanced towards Abidjan.
On April 11, French and UN forces supported operations around Gbagbo’s residence. After heavy fighting and attacks on military positions, Ouattara’s forces entered the compound and captured Gbagbo in his bunker. He was then taken to the Golf Hotel.
Gbagbo was accompanied by his wife Simone and son Michel. Reports at the time said Michel and Simone had been beaten by pro-Ouattara supporters.
Gbagbo was later transferred to the International Criminal Court, where he faced crimes-against-humanity charges.
In January 2019, the ICC acquitted him, and the acquittal became final in March 2021.