The former head of the Central African Republic’s football federation, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, has been found guilty of 28 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Judges at the International Criminal Court also convicted co-defendant Alfred Yekatom on 20 similar charges, following a trial that lasted nearly four years.
Ngaïssona was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Yekatom received a 15-year sentence. Both men were leaders of the anti-Balaka militia that carried out deadly attacks against the country’s Muslim population in 2013 and 2014. The ICC heard from over 170 witnesses and examined nearly 20,000 pieces of evidence during the proceedings.
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Prosecutors said Ngaïssona financed and coordinated attacks, while Yekatom, a commander nicknamed “Rambo”, led fighters into the capital Bangui on 5 December 2013. Hundreds of civilians were killed in the violence, with allegations including murder, torture, and the persecution of Muslims.
The conflict in CAR began after Muslim Séléka rebels seized power in 2013, prompting the rise of Christian militias. At least 1,000 people were killed in Bangui alone in December that year. Despite rejecting all charges, both men were found responsible for orchestrating widespread atrocities targeting civilians.
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