A significant judgment has been passed, reflecting the turmoil in the Central African Republic's history.
**Former CAR Football Chief Convicted of War Crimes**
**Former CAR Football Chief Convicted of War Crimes**
Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona sentenced for crimes against humanity.
In a landmark ruling, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, the former leader of the Central African Republic (CAR) football federation, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC). His conviction is part of a broader case alongside Alfred Yekatom, who received a 15-year sentence for orchestrating violent attacks against the Muslim community during the chaos that engulfed CAR between 2013 and 2014.
The court's decision followed an exhaustive trial that unfolded over nearly four years, detailing evidence from over 170 witnesses and nearly 20,000 documents. The prosecution accused Ngaïssona and Yekatom of leading an armed militia called the anti-Balaka, responsible for widespread atrocities including murder, torture, and orchestrating systematic violence against Muslims, characterized by gruesome acts such as slaughter and mass killings.
The conflict erupted when the Séléka coalition of mostly Muslim rebels seized power, prompting retaliation from anti-Balaka groups. Both men argued against the charges, but their narratives were contradicted by a systematic account of the violence. By the end of 2013, major humanitarian crises had resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 individuals due to intercommunal strife in Bangui, with massive displacements of civilians throughout the city.
Ngaïssona's political ambitions were curtailed in 2015 when allegations of his involvement in the violence surfaced, leading to his arrest by French authorities in December 2018 and subsequent transfer to the ICC. His co-defendant, Yekatom, emerged as a controversial figure, even after being elected to parliament in 2016. The fallout of this case signifies a long-awaited step toward accountability in a country deeply scarred by violence and division.
The International Federation for Human Rights viewed the convictions as a crucial message against impunity and called for the full adherence to justice in the region, reflecting CAR's ongoing struggle for peace in the aftermath of a decade of conflict and unrest.
The court's decision followed an exhaustive trial that unfolded over nearly four years, detailing evidence from over 170 witnesses and nearly 20,000 documents. The prosecution accused Ngaïssona and Yekatom of leading an armed militia called the anti-Balaka, responsible for widespread atrocities including murder, torture, and orchestrating systematic violence against Muslims, characterized by gruesome acts such as slaughter and mass killings.
The conflict erupted when the Séléka coalition of mostly Muslim rebels seized power, prompting retaliation from anti-Balaka groups. Both men argued against the charges, but their narratives were contradicted by a systematic account of the violence. By the end of 2013, major humanitarian crises had resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 individuals due to intercommunal strife in Bangui, with massive displacements of civilians throughout the city.
Ngaïssona's political ambitions were curtailed in 2015 when allegations of his involvement in the violence surfaced, leading to his arrest by French authorities in December 2018 and subsequent transfer to the ICC. His co-defendant, Yekatom, emerged as a controversial figure, even after being elected to parliament in 2016. The fallout of this case signifies a long-awaited step toward accountability in a country deeply scarred by violence and division.
The International Federation for Human Rights viewed the convictions as a crucial message against impunity and called for the full adherence to justice in the region, reflecting CAR's ongoing struggle for peace in the aftermath of a decade of conflict and unrest.
