A court in Ivory Coast on Tuesday found former first lady Simone Gbagbo guilty of undermining state security in relation to her role in a 2011 post-election crisis.

According to a report by BBC NEWS AFRICA, the court subsequently sentenced her to 20 years, twice as long as the prosecutors had asked for. Ivory Coast refused to transfer her to the Hague court, claiming she could be judged fairly in a domestic court.

Mrs Gbagbo, who may also be summoned by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for suspected crimes against humanity, was tried along with 82 other allies of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo.

“The jury members retained all the charges against her, including disturbing the peace, forming and organising armed gangs and undermining state security,” said Rodrigue Dadje, the defendant’s lawyer.

He also explained that her civil rights will be suspended for a period of 10 years and the former president’s son, Michel Gbagbo, had been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.

Ivory Coast’s brief 2011 civil war was sparked by Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to accept defeat to Alassane Ouattara, now president, following the 2010 election. The violence then spiralled into a full-scale military conflict between forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, who had been the President of Ivory Coast from 2000, and supporters of the internationally recognised president-elect Alassane Ouattara. This led to the death of more than 3,000 people.

Mr Gbagbo is currently awaiting trial at the ICC, accused of crimes against humanity for his suspected role in orchestrating the violence.