The Hague, Netherlands – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, former president of the Central African Republic’s football federation, guilty of 28 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, for his role in orchestrating a violent campaign against Muslim civilians during the country’s civil conflict between 2013 and 2014.
Alongside Ngaïssona, the court also convicted Alfred Yekatom, a former lawmaker and militia commander widely known by his alias “Rambo,” on 20 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Yekatom was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while Ngaïssona received 12 years.
The landmark ruling marks a rare moment of accountability in the deeply troubled history of the Central African Republic (CAR), where religious and ethnic violence has claimed thousands of lives over the past decade.
A Four-Year Trial with Devastating Testimonies
The ICC trial, which lasted nearly four years, brought together an extensive body of evidence. More than 170 witnesses testified before the court, and over 20,000 pieces of documentary and audiovisual evidence were presented. The scale of the case highlighted the systematic and coordinated nature of the violence unleashed by the anti-Balaka militias during the height of the civil war.
Both Ngaïssona and Yekatom were key leaders of the anti-Balaka, a mostly Christian militia that emerged in response to the Séléka, a predominantly Muslim rebel coalition that had seized power in 2013, toppling then-President François Bozizé. The anti-Balaka forces, which initially described themselves as a self-defense movement, rapidly descended into sectarian violence, targeting Muslim communities in revenge attacks marked by brutality and mass displacement.
Orchestrated Campaign of Terror
According to the court’s findings, Ngaïssona, who served as a government minister and later headed the country’s football federation, financed, organized, and coordinated anti-Balaka operations that deliberately targeted Muslim civilians. The court described his role as pivotal in unifying and directing fragmented militia groups under a single objective: to eliminate or expel Muslims from areas under their control.
Yekatom, who was at the time a sitting member of parliament, personally led attacks on Muslim neighborhoods in the capital Bangui, including the deadly assault on December 5, 2013. Prosecutors said that during that attack alone, more than 1,000 people were killed, and half the city’s population was forced to flee.
Survivor testimonies and forensic reports detailed the horrific nature of the violence. Victims were tortured, buried alive, and mutilated. Many were targeted solely based on their religious identity.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, both men denied the charges, claiming they had no control over the crimes committed by militia groups. The ICC judges, however, found compelling proof of their direct involvement and command responsibility.
A Nation Still Healing
The ICC’s ruling comes at a sensitive time for the Central African Republic, where years of instability, civil war, and foreign military interventions have left the nation one of the poorest and most volatile in the world. However, there are signs of cautious progress. Earlier this month, two of the country’s major rebel groups announced their voluntary disbandment, signaling what some hope could be a fragile step toward long-term peace.
Nonetheless, vast swathes of CAR remain lawless, with intermittent clashes between armed groups, government forces, and international peacekeepers. Russian paramilitary forces from the Wagner Group have played a growing role in the security architecture of the country, as has Rwanda, which has contributed troops to bolster local efforts against insurgents.
The ICC’s verdict may offer some closure for victims, many of whom have waited years for justice. Human rights organizations have hailed the ruling as a critical milestone for international justice, especially in African conflicts where perpetrators often evade accountability.
Reactions and Implications
Speaking after the verdict, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC called the ruling a “resounding affirmation” that those who commit atrocities, no matter how powerful, will eventually face justice.
“This judgment sends a clear message: crimes against civilians, no matter how complex the conflict, will not go unpunished,” Khan said.
Rights advocates echoed similar sentiments. Amnesty International, in a statement, welcomed the court’s decision but stressed the need for broader investigations into crimes committed by other factions, including Séléka rebels, government-aligned forces, and foreign military actors.
The Central African human rights community has also urged the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in Bangui to complement ICC efforts by pursuing cases at the national level, especially for crimes that fall outside the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, local and international observers are watching closely to see whether the ruling could deter future atrocities, or trigger retaliatory violence from militia remnants still active in remote areas.
A Call for Continued Global Engagement
As CAR seeks to rebuild from years of destruction, experts caution that justice alone is not enough. Sustainable peace, they argue, will require economic investment, inclusive governance, reconciliation programs, and ongoing support from the African Union, United Nations, and international partners.
The convictions of Ngaïssona and Yekatom represent a symbolic turning point for a country long plagued by impunity and political instability. Yet for many survivors, the journey is far from over.
“Today we have seen justice,” said one Bangui-based survivor who lost family members during the 2013 massacre. “But tomorrow, we want to see peace and real change.”
