The day after the former Ivorian head of state appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC),

demonstrations against election proceedings in Congo became unruly in two Canadian cities. The election, marred by violence and massive logistical problems, has many similarities with the case against the countrys former president, Laurent Gbagbo.
At least three people were arrested after demonstrators threw rocks, red air guns and spray painted the DRC Embassy in Ottawa One man was injured by a thrown rock Police were forced to use pepper spray and a stun gun to disperse/arrest protesters One RCMP officer suffered minor injuries Police vehicles were damaged

CONGOLESE VIOLENCE

IN MINUTES

News and events visually

Gbagbo is the rst former head of state to be tried by the ICC. He is being prosecuted on four counts of crimes against humanity: Murder, rape and other sexual violence, persecution and other inhuman acts, between Nov. 28, 2010 and May 2011. According to his arrest warrant, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Gbagbo and his inner circle allegedly planned to target civilians.

Elections

Congolese protests in Canada

Dec. 6 is the day the Deomcratic Republic of Congo was supposed to learn who their next president would be, yet that date has come and gone. The government has blocked text message comunications, banks are closing, hotels emptying and riot police patrol the streets.

Congolese protesters took to the streets in Toronto and Ottawa to bring attention to their countrys election. The protesters believe the elections were xed and they want political leaders in the U.S. and Canada to take action.
A small group of protesters became violent Three people were arrested No one was injured Reports of dirt being thrown at police officers

18 people killed, 100 injured

in violence leading up to the Nov. 28 vote.
OTTAWA TORONTO
Early reports suggest Congolese President Joseph Kabila appears to have won another ve years in office with nearly half the vote. The country will not know officially until Thursday due to a 48 hour delay in the release of nal results. Mass protests have been promised by opposition leaders if Kabila is declared the winner, with many fearing the nation could return to the conict of the past decades.

Joseph Kabila

A tribunal held in The Hague (Netherlands) to try the perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

What is the ICC?

One of 119 signatories. The prosecutor after approval of a Board of Judges. The Security Council of the UN (the ICCs jurisdiction may be exercised in a non-signatory).

Who can enter?

In which case?

La Haye

PAYS-BAS

Omar el-Bechir
President of Sudan accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. Case pending.

The ICC will act only if a national court cannot or will not consider itself an acknowledgment. The perpetrators of war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity (torture, rape, deportation ...) committed after July 1, 2002.

Against whom?

The most famous accused

LIBERIA SUDAN

Jean-Pierre Bemba
Former Vice President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Incarcerated in July 2008. Accused of sexual crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the incursions of its troops in the Central African Republic (from October 2002 to March 2003).

Charles Taylor
Former President of Liberia. Imprisoned in April 2006. Must respond to eleven charges including incitement to civil war between 1989 and 2003. Pending case.
Sources: Reuters; AFP; Radio-Canada; Le Figaro; RFI.fr

IVORY COAST

CONGO

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY TARA CORRAN/QMI AGENCY