Ivory Coast ex-first lady, Simone Gbagbo who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2015 has been granted amnesty

Ivory Coast's jailed former first lady Simone Gbagbo who was sentenced to 20 years for her role in the violence that followed the 2010 elections in which more than 3,000 people died has been granted amnesty by the president in what he says is a move to foster reconciliation.

Her husband, Laurent Gbagbo, is on trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity while Mrs Gbagbo was among 800 people that President Alassane Ouattara pardoned.  

Speaking on state television, the president said that through the amnesty he wanted to bring about "peace and real reconciliation". The violence in 2010 in Ivory Coast, the world's biggest cocoa producer, was sparked by Mr Gbagbo refusing to accept that he lost a disputed election run-off to Mr Ouattara.

Mr and Mrs Gbagbo were arrested in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker where the pair had taken refuge in the main city, Abidjan. The former first lady was accused of "attempting to undermine the security of the state", disturbing public order and organising armed gangs.  

She was also charged with crimes against humanity but was acquitted in a separate trial in 2017. That acquittal has since been overturned.