ICC imprisons ex-football director over war crimes
(MENAFN) The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, the former head of the Central African Republic’s (CAR) football federation, to prison after convicting him of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ngaissona was sentenced alongside Alfred Yekatom, a rebel leader nicknamed ‘Rambo,’ who received a longer prison term of 15 years compared to Ngaissona’s 12 years.
The convictions cover multiple charges including murder, attacks on civilians, forced displacement, torture, inhumane acts, and persecution, according to an ICC statement. Both men led the Anti-balaka, a Christian militia formed in 2013 to fight against the Muslim-majority Seleka coalition that had seized power after ousting then-President Francois Bozize.
Prosecutors accused Ngaissona, who also served as a government minister, of providing funds and weapons to Anti-balaka units active in towns such as Bossangoa, Gaga, and Berberati. Yekatom, a former member of parliament, reportedly commanded around 3,000 fighters and orchestrated attacks in the capital Bangui and other regions. Witnesses described Anti-balaka fighters using grenades, machetes, and assault rifles to terrorize Muslim civilians.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when their trial began in February 2021 after extradition to The Hague. The ICC heard testimony from approximately 75 witnesses, including victims and former members of the armed groups.
The court ruled that Ngaissona and Yekatom were guilty beyond reasonable doubt of multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Central African Republic has been plagued by ongoing militant violence and political instability since its independence from France in 1960, enduring six coups. UN peacekeepers have been stationed in the country under the MINUSCA mission since 2014, but rebel violence remains a persistent challenge.
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