ICC Convicts Anti-Balaka Leaders Ngaïssona and Yekatom for Central African Republic Atrocities
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has delivered a landmark verdict, convicting two prominent leaders of the predominantly Christian Anti-Balaka militia, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona and Alfred Yekatom, for a litany of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) between 2013 and 2014. The convictions, announced by ICC Trial Chamber V on Thursday, July 24, 2025, mark a significant step towards justice for victims of the brutal conflict.
The Verdict and Sentences:
Alfred Yekatom, a former corporal-chef in the Central African Armed Forces and a rebel commander known as "Rambo," was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. He was found guilty on 20 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, a former president of the Central African Republic Football Federation and a senior leader and "National General Coordinator" of the Anti-Balaka, received a sentence of 12 years of imprisonment. He was convicted on 28 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The sentences account for time already served since their arrests and transfers to The Hague. Both men had pleaded not guilty to all charges when their trial began in February 2021.
The Context of the Crimes:
The convictions stem from the widespread and systematic violence that engulfed the CAR following the 2013 coup by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition, which overthrew then-President François Bozizé. In response, the Anti-Balaka militias, largely composed of Christians and animists, emerged to fight back. The ICC found that Ngaïssona and Yekatom played central roles in orchestrating a brutal campaign of violence, primarily targeting the Muslim civilian population, whom the Anti-Balaka perceived as complicit with or supportive of the Seleka.
Specific Crimes Committed:
The judges found both men responsible, to varying degrees, for a range of horrific crimes committed in Bangui and western CAR. The crimes for which they were convicted include, but are not limited to:
For Alfred Yekatom:
Murder
Torture and cruel treatment
Mutilation
Forcible transfer and deportation of population
Intentional attacks against the civilian population
Intentional attacks against buildings dedicated to religion
Persecution
Other inhumane acts
Yekatom, who commanded a group of approximately 3,000 fighters, was found to have directly encouraged atrocities by his forces. Harrowing details were recounted during the trial, including instances where fighters under his command tortured a man by cutting off his fingers, toes, and an ear before he disappeared, and other victims who were killed and then mutilated.
For Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona:
Murder
Torture and cruel treatment
Forcible transfer and deportation of population
Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty
Persecution
Other inhumane acts
Ngaïssona was found to have played a long-term leadership role in the Anti-Balaka movement, coordinating and financing the fighters, fully aware that civilians would be harmed. While he was not accused of direct participation in physical violence, his contributions were deemed instrumental to the broad scope of crimes committed by the Anti-Balaka.
Acquittals:
It is notable that the court acquitted Yekatom of the charge of conscripting or enlisting child soldiers, and Ngaïssona was acquitted of the charge of rape, citing insufficient credible evidence for these specific counts.
Significance of the Verdict:
This conviction marks a crucial moment for justice in the Central African Republic. Thousands of civilians were killed, and hundreds of thousands displaced during the sectarian violence. Human Rights Watch welcomed the verdict, calling it "an important step toward justice in the country." The ICC's ruling sends a strong message that those responsible for atrocity crimes, regardless of their position or influence, will be held accountable under the Rome Statute.
The trial was the first case at the ICC to focus on the violence that erupted after the Seleka seized power in the CAR in 2013, with investigations by the court ongoing since May 2014.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
