The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday convicted two former militia leaders, Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Alfred Yekatom, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during a wave of sectarian violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) between 2013 and 2014.
The court found both men guilty of orchestrating and overseeing atrocities—including murder, torture, persecution, and the forced displacement of civilians—targeting Muslim communities amid clashes between Christian-dominated anti-Balaka militias and Muslim Seleka rebels.
Ngaissona, a former football executive identified as a key anti-Balaka leader, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Yekatom, also known as “Rambo,” who commanded an estimated 3,000 fighters, received a 15-year sentence. Judges noted that Yekatom not only ordered attacks but also encouraged and praised subordinates who committed serious crimes.
The two men had pleaded not guilty at the start of their trial in 2021.
The anti-Balaka movement emerged in 2013 in response to the Seleka rebellion, which had earlier overthrown the government. The conflict quickly escalated into widespread violence, with anti-Balaka fighters launching retaliatory attacks against Muslim civilians, plunging the country into chaos.
The ICC opened its investigation into the CAR conflict in May 2014. Thursday’s ruling represents a major step in holding those responsible for the violence accountable. A separate trial involving a former Seleka commander remains ongoing.
