The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, former head of the Central African Republic's football federation, guilty of 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ngaïssona, along with ex-militia commander Alfred Yekatom, known as Rambo, were accused of orchestrating brutal attacks on CAR's Muslim population between 2013 and 2014.
Guilty Verdicts and Sentences
Found guilty of 28 charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Found guilty of 20 charges and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The trial lasted nearly four years, with over 170 witnesses and 20,000 pieces of evidence presented. Prosecutors alleged that Ngaïssona funded and directed the violence, while Yekatom led attacks on civilians in Bangui on December 5, 2013, resulting in the deaths of 1,000 people and the displacement of half the capital's population.
Ngaïssona and Yekatom led anti-Balaka militias, mostly Christian fighters who rose up after Muslim Séléka rebels seized power in 2013, ousting President François Bozizé. The conflict resulted in widespread violence, torture, and killings, with victims targeted purely for being Muslim.
The ICC's ruling comes as the Central African Republic sees a fragile step toward peace, with two major rebel groups dissolving this month. The conviction of Ngaïssona and Yekatom serves as a significant step towards accountability and justice for the victims of the conflict.
The verdict has brought a sense of closure to the victims and their families, who have endured years of suffering and injustice. The international community has welcomed the ICC's decision, emphasizing the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. As the Central African Republic continues on its path towards peace and stability, the conviction of Ngaïssona and Yekatom serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law.