The former president of the Central African Republic’s (CAR) football federation, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, has been convicted of 28 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Ngaïssona stood trial alongside Alfred Yekatom, a former militia commander known as "Rambo," for orchestrating violent attacks against CAR’s Muslim population between 2013 and 2014. The nearly four-year-long trial featured testimony from over 170 witnesses and included nearly 20,000 pieces of evidence.
The ICC sentenced Ngaïssona to 12 years in prison, while Yekatom received a 15-year sentence after being found guilty on 20 charges. Although Ngaïssona was acquitted of rape charges and Yekatom was cleared of recruiting child soldiers, both were found responsible for severe atrocities including murder, torture, and the persecution of religious communities.
Context of the Conflict
In 2013, the Central African Republic plunged into chaos when the predominantly Muslim Séléka rebel group overthrew then-President François Bozizé. In response, largely Christian militias known as anti-Balaka mobilized to counter Séléka forces, leading to a devastating cycle of violence across the country.
Ngaïssona was identified as a key political coordinator of the anti-Balaka factions, providing funding and strategic direction. According to the prosecution, Yekatom led armed fighters into the capital, Bangui, on December 5, 2013, where mass killings of civilians occurred. Prosecutors described the coordinated campaign as an attempt to portray all Muslims as "enemies of the nation."
Media reports from the time indicate that at least 1,000 people were killed in Bangui alone during that month, with nearly half the city's population displaced.
Background on Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona
A former sports minister and head of CAR's football federation, Ngaïssona was elected to the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in February 2018. His appointment drew sharp criticism from human rights organizations due to his alleged involvement in war crimes.
He had previously attempted to run for CAR’s presidency in 2015 but was disqualified because of his suspected role in orchestrating atrocities. Speaking to AFP in 2018, Ngaïssona denied any wrongdoing, stating: “If the allegations were true, I wouldn’t be here today… I don’t mix politics and sport. Everything I’ve done has been for the good of my country.”
He was arrested in France in December 2018 and transferred to ICC custody in January 2019.
Verdict and Aftermath
Both Ngaïssona and Yekatom pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court's verdict marks a significant moment in international justice efforts and accountability for war crimes committed during the Central African Republic’s prolonged conflict.
The ICC ruling comes at a time when peace efforts in CAR have gained some traction, leading to the recent dissolution of two major rebel groups.
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