Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, former head of the Central African Republic (CAR) Football Federation, was found guilty of 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity by judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He was accused of coordinating attacks on the country’s Muslim population in 2013-14.
Yekatom was found guilty of 20 charges. The judge made a judgment after the trial lasted nearly four years, involving more than 170 witnesses and nearly 20,000 pieces of evidence.
Violence has put the car in trouble over the past decade, but the recent peace deal has led to the disbandment of two rebel groups this month.
In 2013, when the Séléka Group dominated Muslim rebels, seized power in most Christian countries, and the cars fell into turmoil.
After the then-President François Bozizé was removed from office, a Christian militia band called “Anti-Baraka” was called Anti-Baraka.
Ngaïssona and Yekatom were convicted of many crimes, including murder, torture and persecution of religious groups.
The prosecution has set out the so-called command system, saying Ngaïssona provided funds and instructions to the anti-Baraka group in 2013 and 2014.
Yekatom, nicknamed Rambo, allegedly he brought combatants into the capital Bangui on December 5, 2013, and civilians were massacred.
The prosecutor said the two’s strategy was to describe all Muslims’ goals as “enemies of the state.”
Yekatom authorized his fighters to attack Muslim civilians, including slit throats, cut ears and living people, prosecutors said.
Asked to make a request at the beginning of the trial, the two refused all charges.
Media reports at the time indicated that at least 1,000 people were killed in the Tit-Tat conflict in Bangui in December 2013, and half of the city’s population fled in the month alone.
Who is Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona?
He is the self-proclaimed political coordinator of the anti-Baraka army.
Ngaïssona was banned from running for auto president in 2015 for allegedly playing a role in atrocities.
He was the former head of the Car Football Federation and briefly served as Minister of Sports before being elected as the Executive Committee of the African Football Federation (CAF) in February 2018.
His appointment was criticized by several human rights groups.
“If the allegations were true, I wouldn’t be here today.”[I don’t] Mixed Politics and Movement – Everything I do is for the good of my country. ”
French authorities arrested him in December 2018 and were transferred to the ICC in January 2019.
Who is Alfred Yekatom?
Yekatom was elected to Congress in 2016 despite UN sanctions.
He was arrested in October 2018 after Congress fired a gun and then fled after a captain of the parliamentarian.
His extradition to the International Criminal Court was the first car.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH with the French acronym) said it shows that the authorities there are committed to impunity.
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