ICC confirms war crimes charges against Central African Republic suspect

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed war crimes and crimes against humanity charges Thursday against a former commander of the Seleka rebel faction in the Central African Republic, paving the way for his trial to begin.

Mahamat Said Abdel Kain was detained and transferred to The Hague in January.

The pre-trial chamber found that there is “sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Said was a senior member of the Seleka coalition” and is “criminally responsible for crimes against humanity including torture and war crimes” in the capital Bangui between April 12, 2013 and Aug. 30, 2013 against detained persons perceived as supporters of former President Francois Bozize, the ICC said in a statement.

Said, 51, was transferred to the ICC on account of the court’s warrant of arrest issued in January 2019. The central African nation has been devastated by violence since Bozize was ousted in 2013.

Seleka fighters launched an offensive against the government in the Central African Republic in December 2012 and staged a coup in March 2013.