ICC Jails Two Militia Leaders for Attacks on Muslims in Central African Republic

 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found two Central African Republic militia leaders guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in brutal attacks against Muslim civilians between 2013 and 2014. The court convicted Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Alfred Yekatom for leading Christian-dominated militia groups, known as the anti-Balaka, during a wave of violence that swept across the country. The judges found that Ngaissona, a former top football official, played a long-standing leadership role in the anti-Balaka movement. He helped organize and support attacks on Muslim communities. As a result, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Alfred Yekatom, also known as “Rambo,” was a militia commander overseeing around 3,000 fighters. The court determined he encouraged his troops to commit atrocities. He received a 15-year sentence. The anti-Balaka groups emerged in 2013 in response to the Seleka, a Muslim-majority rebel coalition that had seized power and was accused of looting and violence. The anti-Balaka retaliated by launching their own violent campaign, mostly targeting Muslim civilians. The ICC’s investigation into these events began in May 2014. Both Ngaissona and Yekatom pleaded not guilty when their trial opened in 2021. However, the court found them responsible for crimes including murder, torture, forced displacement, and persecution based on religion. The ruling is seen as a major step toward justice for victims of the Central African Republic's sectarian conflict.

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The sentencing of Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Alfred Yekatom by the International Criminal Court marks a significant milestone in international justice efforts. The verdict highlights the ICC’s ongoing work in holding accountable those responsible for mass atrocities in conflict zones, particularly in the Central African Republic. Both men were high-ranking figures in the anti-Balaka militia, which carried out coordinated attacks against Muslims in retaliation for earlier violence by Seleka rebels. Yekatom, the more senior of the two, earned the nickname “Rambo” and was notorious for leading thousands of fighters who reportedly committed widespread human rights violations. The court found that he not only failed to prevent these acts but actively supported and encouraged them. Ngaissona was not a battlefield commander but played a central role in the political and logistical support of the anti-Balaka forces, which included arming fighters and coordinating attacks. The judges concluded that both men shared criminal responsibility for a campaign that involved killings, torture, forced displacements, and the persecution of civilians based on religion. These acts were part of a broader pattern of sectarian violence that tore through the country following the 2013 Seleka coup. The ruling sends a strong message that militia leaders cannot act with impunity. Although one trial of a Seleka rebel leader is still ongoing at the ICC, this conviction of anti-Balaka commanders demonstrates the court’s intent to hold all sides accountable. Many human rights groups have praised the decision as a vital step toward ending a culture of impunity in the region and ensuring that victims of the conflict receive justice. The sentences 15 years for Yekatom and 12 years for Ngaissona reflect the seriousness of their crimes and are expected to influence future cases involving mass violence and religious persecution.

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