ICC convicts former Central African Republic militia leader | The Hague News
Militia Commander Convicted of Crimes Against Humanity by ICC
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, a former commander of a militia in the Central African Republic, guilty of crimes against humanity, including torture. The ruling was issued on Wednesday as part of the court’s ongoing efforts to address human rights violations stemming from the nation’s civil conflict in 2013.
Said, 56, was convicted for his leadership role at a detention center operated by the Seleka coalition in Bangui. The facility was notorious for the severe mistreatment of individuals detained on accusations of supporting then-President François Bozizé.
In a session led by Judge Miatta Maria Samba, the court heard harrowing testimonies about the practices employed at the Central Office for the Repression of Banditry, where detainees were subjected to whipping, waterboarding, and a brutal method known as “Arbatacher,” which involved binding the hands, elbows, and feet of prisoners behind their backs.
Prison conditions were reported to be deplorable, with some individuals held in underground cells lacking basic hygiene facilities. According to Judge Samba, the stench of human waste permeated the areas where detainees were kept, severely impacting their well-being.
While the court acquitted Said of three war crimes charges, citing that those incidents occurred after the main conflict had ended, a separate hearing will determine his sentence.
Said, who appeared in court without visible distress, denied all charges and shook his head as the verdict was announced. He played a significant role in the Seleka coalition, which came to power in 2013, triggering a period of violence that led to the deaths of thousands. The subsequent rise of the “anti-Balaka” militia in response further escalated the turmoil until French forces intervened in 2014 under a United Nations mandate.
The ICC has been investigating atrocities in the Central African Republic since 2014 and has previously convicted two leaders from the anti-Balaka group. Said is notable for being the first member of the Seleka to be convicted by the tribunal.
Since a peace agreement was reached in 2019, the country has seen a degree of relative stability, although challenges remain.
