Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Alfred Yekatom, leaders of the anti-Balaka militia, were convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Muslim civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR) between 2013 and 2014. Yekatom received a 15-year sentence for 20 counts, while Ngaissona was sentenced to 12 years for 28 counts. The crimes included murder, torture, and attacks on civilians. The anti-Balaka militia was formed in response to the Seleka rebel group's seizure of power in 2013.

The ICC trial, which began in 2021, detailed harrowing accounts of violence against suspected Seleka Muslims, including mutilation and torture. While Yekatom was found not guilty of conscripting child soldiers, and Ngaissona was acquitted of rape charges, both men had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The convictions mark the first ICC case focusing on the violence following the Seleka's 2013 takeover. Yekatom was extradited from the CAR in late 2018, and Ngaissona was extradited from France in December 2018. The trial of another alleged Seleka commander is ongoing.

Impact Statement: The convictions represent a significant step towards accountability for the atrocities committed during the CAR's civil war and may contribute to reconciliation efforts.