The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced the Central African Republic’s (CAR’s) former football chief, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, to 12 years in prison for war crimes committed during the country’s 2013-2014 civil war.
The judges convicted Ngaïssona on 28 counts, including murder, torture, and persecution. He led and coordinated Anti-Balaka militias that targeted Muslim civilians after Seleka rebels seized control of the capital, Bangui.
Notably, the court found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, relying on nearly 20 000 exhibits and testimony from 174 witnesses. The trial spanned almost four years, underscoring the court’s extensive investigation and judicial diligence.
MILITIA VIOLENCE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
The judges confirmed that Ngaïssona funded and directed attacks on Muslim communities in Bangui and western CAR. His militias subjected victims to murder, torture, and other inhumane acts as part of a coordinated campaign.
According to the ICC, these crimes included forcible displacement, cruel treatment, and religious persecution. Moreover, the court concluded that Anti-Balaka fighters intentionally targeted civilians because of their religion, which qualifies as persecution under crimes against humanity.
Previous proceedings mentioned charges of rape, conscription, and the use of child soldiers, but the court excluded them from the final conviction. The court’s legal review of the available evidence and applicable international standards led to this exclusion.
CO-DEFENDANT ALSO SENTENCED
In the same judgment the ICC sentenced co-defendant Alfred Yekatom, known as “Rambo,” to 15 years for 20 war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Yekatom commanded Anti-Balaka fighters and directed military operations in Bangui and the Lobaye prefecture, including attacks on Muslim civilians in December 2013. His forces committed acts of extreme brutality, including mutilation. Several victims’ bodies were never recovered.
Both Yekatom and Ngaïssona pleaded not guilty and remained composed as the judges delivered the verdict in The Hague on 24 July 2025. Time served by Yekatom and Ngaïssona since their surrender to the ICC in 2018 will be credited towards their prison sentences, in accordance with ICC rules.
WIDER CONFLICT AND ONGOING ICC PROCEEDINGS
The Central African Republic remains highly unstable, with sporadic clashes continuing between government forces and armed rebel groups, some of which receive foreign military support.
This ruling marks the first international conviction of Anti-Balaka leadership since the onset of the civil war over a decade ago. The ICC’s legal involvement in CAR remains active.
A separate trial against Seleka commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani is ongoing at the ICC. Meanwhile, domestic proceedings involving Edmond Beina and others are scheduled to commence this week in CAR.
Although the ICC formally concluded its investigations in CAR in 2022, it continues to oversee active trials and jurisdictional disputes as new legal challenges emerge.
A MILESTONE FOR JUSTICE IN CAR
This landmark ruling sends a clear signal that war crimes, regardless of the perpetrator’s position, will not go unpunished. As CAR navigates a fragile peace, the ICC’s verdict provides a measure of justice to victims and stands as a warning to future armed leaders.
However, long-term stability in CAR will require coordinated efforts to strengthen the rule of law, rebuild intercommunal trust, and ensure accountability on all sides of the conflict.
WILL THESE CONVICTIONS ADVANCE PEACE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN CAR?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11.
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