Edouard Ngaïssona, the former head of the Central African Republic (CAR) football federation, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by the International Criminal Court (ICC) after being found guilty of 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court’s decision followed an extensive trial involving over 170 witnesses and nearly 20,000 pieces of evidence.
Ngaïssona, alongside Alfred Yekatom, was accused of orchestrating brutal attacks against CAR’s Muslim population during the country’s devastating civil conflict between 2013 and 2014. The two men were key figures in the violence, with Yekatom receiving a 15-year sentence for his role in the attacks. The prosecution presented evidence that the men coordinated efforts aimed at persecuting Muslims, with the aim of eliminating them as “enemies of the nation.”
A Trial of Harrowing Allegations
The court heard testimony detailing a systematic campaign of violence, where victims were subjected to murder, torture, and religious persecution. According to prosecutors, Ngaïssona provided financial and logistical support to anti-Balaka groups, which targeted Muslim civilians in horrific assaults. These groups, in response to the power shift in 2013, sought to purge the country of its Muslim population, leading to widespread killings.
Alfred Yekatom, known by the nickname “Rambo,” was accused of personally leading fighters into the capital, Bangui, where a bloody massacre occurred in December 2013. At least 1,000 people were reportedly killed during this brutal period, and half of the city’s population was forced to flee. The prosecution outlined how the pair’s actions were designed to sow terror and suppress an entire religious group.
Despite the severity of the charges, both men denied all accusations throughout the trial.
Key Figures in the Conflict
Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, once a prominent sports official in CAR, served as the self-declared political coordinator of the anti-Balaka militia. His previous position as head of the CAR’s football federation and his brief tenure as sports minister raised eyebrows when he was elected to the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2018, despite his alleged involvement in the atrocities. Human rights groups criticised the move, citing the gravity of the charges against him.
Ngaïssona’s arrest by French authorities in December 2018 and his subsequent transfer to the ICC in January 2019 marked a pivotal moment in CAR’s fight against impunity.
On the other hand, Alfred Yekatom made headlines for his violent outburst in 2018, where he fired a gun in parliament after a dispute with a fellow lawmaker. Yekatom’s extradition to the ICC was notable as it represented the first time a CAR national had been handed over to the court, signaling a shift in the country’s approach to dealing with impunity.
The Central African Republic’s Struggle with Violence
The CAR has been marred by instability for over a decade, a result of conflicts between Muslim rebels and Christian militias. The violence began in 2013 when the Séléka group, primarily composed of Muslims, seized power, leading to the rise of the anti-Balaka militias, which were mostly Christian. The years of fighting have left thousands dead, and displaced populations continue to struggle with the aftermath.
In recent months, the country saw a breakthrough with a peace deal that led to the dissolution of two rebel groups. However, the deep scars left by the years of conflict remain a challenge for CAR’s future.
Accountability and International Justice
The sentences handed to Ngaïssona and Yekatom come as a significant step in holding individuals accountable for their roles in the country’s war crimes. The verdict also sends a message about the ICC’s determination to address impunity in conflict zones worldwide.
Although both men have denied the charges, the convictions of these high-profile figures represent a small but significant step toward peace and justice in the Central African Republic.