The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo’s wife Simone, accusing her of being his “alter ego” in orchestrating a campaign of election violence almost two years ago in which 3,000 people died.

The warrant on four counts of crimes against humanity was issued in February but only made public by the court on Thursday.

It is the first issued by the ICC for a woman.

Simone, 63, is accused of “crimes against humanity, of murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution and other inhumane acts” committed during the 2010-2011 post-election crisis, the court said.

The bloody stand-off came after Gbagbo and his rival Alassane Ouattara both claimed victory in the much-delayed November 2010 presidential election in the world’s top cocoa producer.

The court said that the violence was committed as part of a “common plan... and that Mr Gbagbo’s inner circle, to which Ms Gbagbo belonged, met frequently to discuss the implementation and coordination of the plan”.

“Although not elected, Ms Gbagbo acted as an alter ego for her husband, exercising the power to make State decisions,” it said.

The crimes during the ethnically tinged conflict were carried out by the Ivorian army, as well as youth militias and mercenaries loyal to Gbagbo, who is himself awaiting trial at the ICC, the court said.

The crimes were committed in commercial capital Abidjan, around the country and around the Golf Hotel in Abidjan where Ouattara was then besieged by forces loyal to Gbagbo. (AFP)