ICC convicts former CAR rebel leader of war crimes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted a former Central African Republic militia commander, Mahamat Kani, of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Judges in The Hague, on Wednesday, found the former Seleka militia leader guilty of running a detention facility in the capital, Bangui, where supporters of the then-president Francois Bozizé were subjected to inhumane treatment during the civil war.

Reuters reported that he was found guilty ​on four counts of crimes against humanity, including persecution and torture.

According to Presiding Judge Miatta Samba, Mr Kani oversaw the torture and abuse of prisoners as part of ​a plan to target perceived Bozizé supporters in the capital, Bangui.

The 2013 CAR civil war led to the death of over 2,600 people and the displacement of more than 1.2 million people. The crisis stemmed from the Seleka rebellion, a predominantly Muslim coalition of rebel groups that accused President François Bozizé of failing to honour peace agreements and excluding them from government.

In March 2013, the Muslim rebel coalition marched on CAR’s capital, Bangui, and overthrew President Bozizé. After Seleka seized power, its fighters carried out widespread killings, looting, rape, and other violent acts.

The brutality led to the expansion and mobilisation of local self-defence militias, anti-Balaka groups, which eventually escalated the crisis.

The ICC has been investigating the violence in the Central African Republic since 2014. The ICC extradited Mr Kani in 2021.

The court had previously convicted two “anti-Balaka” leaders. However, Mr Kani is the first Seleka member to be convicted.

He was a top commander of the rebel coalition. He controlled the Central Office for the Repression of Banditry (OCRB), a prison unit in the capital, Bangui.

Prosecutors allege that prisoners at the facility, who were suspected supporters of Mr Bozize, were subjected to various forms of torture, including whippings and body mutilation.

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It was also alleged that inmates were denied food or water, with some drinking their own urine out of desperation at Mr Kani’s unit.

According to the court, the cell directly beneath Mr Kani’s office at the facility was dubbed “the hole” and prisoners held there were left in dire conditions.

The militia commander denied all the charges against him.

However, he was convicted on four counts of crimes against humanity.