Judges of the Hague-based court on 15 January, ordered the acquittal of Mr. Gbagbo and his co-defendant, Charles Ble Goude, prosecuted since 2011 and 2015 respectively for crimes against humanity.
The crimes were thought to have been committed during the post-poll crisis in Cote d’Ivoire from December 2010 to April 2011.
The decision was suspended by an appeal by the ICC Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda.