Former Central African Football Chief Convicted of War Crimes

The former head of the Central African Republic's football federation, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was convicted alongside Alfred Yekatom, prompting discussions on accountability in the ongoing violence in the Central African Republic.

Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, the former head of the football federation in the Central African Republic (CAR), has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in committing 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity, as ruled by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ngaïssona was accused, together with co-defendant Alfred Yekatom, of orchestrating violent attacks against the Muslim population during the civil conflict between 2013 and 2014.

After nearly four years of legal proceedings, which involved the testimonies of over 170 witnesses and the examination of nearly 20,000 pieces of evidence, the ICC verdict revealed the depth of atrocities committed during this tumultuous period. Yekatom, known in military circles as "Rambo," received a 15-year sentence for his role in the same brutal campaign against Muslim civilians. Both convicted men denied the charges throughout the trial.

The violence in CAR spiraled significantly following a coup in 2013 when an alliance of predominantly Muslim rebels, called the Séléka, seized control in the majority Christian nation. This led to the emergence of a counter-vigilante group called anti-Balaka, composed mainly of Christian militias, which intensified the escalating violence.

Among the charges that Ngaïssona and Yekatom faced were murder, torture, and the persecution of a religious group. The prosecution's strategy highlighted how Ngaïssona's leadership enabled systematic attacks with targeted funding and operational orders directed at anti-Balaka fighters, painting a picture of a coordinated effort to depopulate Muslims, whom they branded "enemies of the nation."

In the wake of their heinous actions, significant casualties were reported, with estimates suggesting that at least 1,000 individuals died amid clashes in the capital, Bangui. These events have contributed greatly to the ongoing humanitarian crisis within the CAR.

Notably, Ngaïssona's past actions in sports governance, alongside his political ambitions, were overshadowed by scrutiny from human rights advocates when he was elected to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) executive committee in 2018, shortly after being barred from presidential candidacy over his alleged war crimes.

In a related development, the International Federation for Human Rights commended the extradition of Yekatom to the ICC, signifying a commitment from CAR authorities to combat impunity amid a persistently violent backdrop. The convictions mark a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the CAR's protracted conflict.