• ICC convicts Alain Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona for war crimes in Central African Republic.
• Yekatom sentenced to 15 years; Ngaïssona to 12 years for crimes against humanity.
• Violations committed during a civil war targeting Muslim civilians by anti-Balaka militias.
• Both leaders denied charges amid extensive evidence presented over four years of trial.
• The ruling is seen as a step towards justice for victims of wartime atrocities.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted two leaders of the anti-Balaka militia in the Central African Republic for their roles in war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war of 2013-2014. Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, a former football federation president, was sentenced to 12 years, while militia commander Alfred Yekatom, also known as "Rambo," received a 15-year sentence. Both men were found guilty of orchestrating brutal attacks against the predominantly Muslim Seleka population, resulting in numerous atrocities including murder, torture, and forcible transfer, according to africanews, africanews, and aljazeera.

The trial, which began in 2021, presented over 170 witnesses and a total of 20,000 pieces of evidence. Prosecutors highlighted how Ngaissona funded and facilitated the violence, while Yekatom led direct assaults during events such as the horrifying attacks on civilians in Bangui, where thousands were reportedly killed. The individuals denied all charges throughout the proceedings, according to trtglobal and reuters.

The court characterized the actions of the anti-Balaka militia as retaliatory, arising after the Seleka rebels seized control of the CAR. Both leaders were instrumental in a sectarian campaign that targeted Muslim civilians based on perceived collective guilt for Seleka’s abuses. Witness testimonies highlighted particularly gruesome acts, including systematic torture and murder, leading to a re-examination of the conflict's sectarian dimensions, as pointed out by allafrica and allafrica.

Yekatom was convicted of 20 counts of war crimes, while Ngaissona faced 28 charges. Their sentences reflect the ICC's commitment to delivering justice and deterring future atrocities. The prosecution's statements reinforce the message that such offenses will not go unpunished, emphasizing the ICC's role in international law, as noted by scmp and aljazeera.