Central African Republic

ICC Convicts Central African Republic Rebels Over War Crimes

JUL 25 2025·Updated JUL 27 2025

Story

Above: The International Criminal Court, in The Hague, Netherlands. Image credit: Pierre Crom/Getty Images

The Facts

International Criminal Court judges on Thursday convicted Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona and Alfred Yekatom, two leaders of a predominantly Christian rebel group, of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) between 2013 and 2014. The two have been sentenced to 12 and 15 years in prison, respectively.
Al Jazeera
Icc-Cpi
The convictions stem from their role in the predominantly Christian Anti-Balaka militia, which reportedly engaged in sectarian violence against Muslim civilians after the Muslim-majority Seleka rebel group seized power in one of the world's poorest countries in March 2013.
UN News
Daily Trust
Yekatom was found guilty of 20 charges, including murder, torture, and attacking civilians, while Ngaïssona, a former CAR football executive, was convicted on 28 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Both men rejected all charges against them.
Africanews
Al Jazeera
The court detailed brutal atrocities, including fighters cutting off victims' fingers and toes, with some bodies never recovered, allegedly as part of a systematic campaign targeting Muslim civilians. Both men have the right to appeal the ruling.
Courthouse News Service
Africanews
This marks the first ICC case focusing on the Central African Republic violence that erupted after the 2013 coup, with the trial involving 174 witnesses and nearly 20,000 pieces of evidence.
BBC News
Courthouse News Service
The trial of alleged Seleka commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani for war crimes and crimes against humanity remains ongoing. Separate proceedings against other anti-Balaka leaders are scheduled to begin in the Central African Republic on Friday.
The Associated Press
Africanews

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

These convictions represent crucial progress in delivering justice for victims of horrific sectarian violence. The ICC demonstrated its commitment to independence and accountability by thoroughly investigating and prosecuting leaders who orchestrated systematic attacks against Muslim civilians. The detailed evidence of torture, murder, and forced displacement shows why international justice mechanisms are essential when national systems fail to act.

Icc-Cpi

Human Rights Watch

Narrative B

The ICC's focus on African leaders and the Global South while ignoring Western war crimes exposes its selective justice and neo-colonial bias. Major powers like the U.S. and European nations escape accountability for devastating interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, while African officials face prosecution. This double standard undermines the court's credibility and reinforces perceptions that it serves Western political interests rather than impartial justice.