Central African Republic minister arrested over war crimes

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The livestock minister from the Central African Republic has been detained for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, the Special Criminal Court in that country confirmed Monday.

The Special Criminal Court which tries human rights cases said in a statement that Hassane Bouba Ali was arrested under a warrant issued by judges of its Investigating Chamber.

In the presence of his lawyer, he was brought before the Investigative Chamber where he was informed of the charges allegedly committed on Central African Republic territory, it said.

Pending further proceedings, he was imprisoned, the statement added.

Bouba was allegedly directly linked to an attack in 2018 that killed more than 100 villagers, including children.

The former rebel leader was arrested at his office at the ministry last Friday. Police officers reportedly reassured him that he was just being taken for questioning about the alleged crimes but was not under arrest.

The central African nation has been devastated by violence since former President Francois Bozize was ousted in 2013.

Before joining politics in 2017, Bouba was number two, acting as coordinator of an armed group, the Union for Peace in Central Africa (UPC).

The American nongovernmental organization, The Sentry, linked Bouba and UPC leader Ali Darassa to a Nov. 2018 attack on a displacement camp that left 112 villagers killed, including 19 children.

During the attack, Bouba was Special Adviser to President Faustin Archange Touadera, who assumed power in 2016 and started to integrate rebels.

The UPC expelled Bouba from its ranks in January 2021 as the rebel group temporarily joined a new rebel coalition against Touadera.

On Saturday, one dozen young people took to the streets to express discontent following the arrest of Bouba.

Demonstrators claim that the real leaders of the armed groups, who committed crimes are operating in Chad.