ICC convicts former Seleka leader of crimes against humanity — TimesLIVE

In The Hague, Netherlands, the International Criminal Court found former Seleka group leader Mahamat Said Abdel Kani guilty on four counts of crimes against humanity, including persecution and torture. TimesLIVE reports, citing Reuters.

Persecution of Bozize supporters

Prosecutors argued that Said ran a prison where alleged supporters of then-President of the Central African Republic François Bozize were beaten and tortured. The defendant denied all charges against him.

Presiding Judge Miatta Maria Samba said that Said and others controlled the beatings and torture of detainees as part of a plan targeting people considered supporters of Bozize in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. Said showed no reaction to the court's decision as the verdict was delivered.

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Separate hearing on sentencing

The judges dismissed some of the war crimes charges, concluding that the armed conflict had already ended at the time the alleged crimes were committed. Said's sentence will be determined at a separate hearing.

The predominantly Muslim Seleka group, whose name means “alliance” in the Sango language, seized power in the Central African Republic in 2013, ousting Bozize. Christian anti-balaka militias then emerged. The ICC has been investigating violence in the CAR since 2014; the court had previously convicted two anti-balaka leaders, while Said became the first convicted Seleka representative.