The International Criminal Court has found two former Central African Republic militia leaders guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Patrice Edouard Ngaïssona, once head of the country’s football federation, was convicted on 28 counts and sentenced to 12 years. His co-accused, Alfred Yekatom nicknamed “Rambo” received 15 years for 20 charges.
The charges stem from violent attacks against Muslim communities between 2013 and 2014. Both men led anti-Balaka militias, predominantly Christian fighters who rose up following the overthrow of President François Bozizé by Muslim Séléka rebels.
Prosecutors presented nearly 20,000 pieces of evidence and testimony from 170 witnesses during the four-year trial. They argued that Ngaïssona financed and directed the violence, while Yekatom orchestrated deadly assaults on civilians, including a December 2013 rampage in Bangui where 1,000 people were killed and half the city fled.
Victims were reportedly tortured, buried alive, and targeted based solely on their religion. Both leaders denied all charges.
This landmark verdict comes as the CAR edges toward reconciliation, with two major rebel factions disbanding earlier this month.
