The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced two former leaders of the Anti-Balaka militia in the Central African Republic (CAR) to prison terms for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
ICC, in a statement on Thursday said Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona received sentences of 15 and 12 years, respectively, for their roles in brutal attacks against civilians, primarily from the country’s Muslim Seleka population, during the 2013-2014 civil war.
The violence erupted in 2012 after a coup led by the mainly Muslim rebel coalition, Séléka.
The fighting took on a deeply sectarian tenor as Anti-Balaka militia started a brutal campaign of reprisal attacks against civilians.
Thousands of people were killed in the violence that swept CAR.
Yekatom was found guilty of murder, torture, forcible transfer and deportation, directing an attack against a building dedicated to religion, and persecution.
Ngaïssona was convicted of aiding and abetting many of the same crimes, including persecution, forcible displacement, and cruel treatment.
Yekatom was sentenced to 15 years, while Ngaïssona received a 12-year sentence, with time already served to be deducted.
The trial began in February 2021, with over 114 witnesses testified for the prosecution, while 56 witnesses testified for the defense.
A total of 1,965 victims participated in the trial through legal representatives.
