Chad surrenders former Central African Republic militia leader to ICC
The Hague, Netherlands (PANA) - The Chadian government on Monday surrendered Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka, a former military leader in the Central African Republic (CAR), to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This is on account of an ICC warrant of arrest issued under seal on 10 December 2018, ICC said in a statement.
Mokom is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Bangui and other locations in CAR in 2013 and 2014.
The warrant of arrest by Pre-Trial Chamber II found that there were reasonable grounds to believe that an armed conflict not of an international character was ongoing on the territory of the CAR from at least September 2013 until at least December 2014.
The conflict was between the Seleka – a coalition of armed groups predominantly composed of Muslims opposed to former president François Bozizé – and the Anti-Balaka – a movement opposed to the Seleka and supportive of former president Bozizé.
"Moreover, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that, from at least September 2013 until at least December 2014, an attack was conducted by the Anti-Balaka against the Muslim civilian population and those perceived as collectively responsible for, complicit with or supportive of the Seleka, pursuant to or in furtherance of an organisational policy to target primarily the Muslim population in Bangui and other prefectures."
The statement said the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Mokom, a national of the CAR, born on 30 December 1978 in Bangui, was a National Coordinator of Operations of the Anti-Balaka.
In this capacity, he is suspected of being responsible for crimes against humanity consisting in (attempted) murder, extermination, deportation or forcible transfer of population, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts, among others.
The alleged crimes were committed in various locations in the CAR, including Bangui, Bossangoa, the Lobaye Prefecture, Yaloké, Gaga, Bossemptélé, Boda, Carnot and Berberati, between at least 5 December 2013 and at least December 2014.
On 30 May 2014, the Government of the CAR referred the situation in the country since 1 August 2012 to the Court.
-0- PANA MA 15March2022
