Panafrican News Agency

US welcomes opening of trial of CAR commander Abdel Kani by ICC

Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The United States has welcomed the opening of trial proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the prosecution of Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, a former Séléka commander in the Central African Republic (CAR).

This case marks the first Séléka-rebel defendant to face charges at the ICC for atrocities committed against civilians in CAR.

A statement on Tuesday in Washington, DC, by the US Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken, said amidst ongoing armed violence in the Central African Republic, "the opening of these proceedings affirms the unwavering importance of justice".

He said this trial at the ICC complements the vital parallel proceedings in CAR, including in domestic courts and the Special Criminal Court.

"The United States is committed to promoting accountability for war crimes and human rights violations and the end of impunity, which is foundational to lasting peace in the country and region," Mr. Blinken said.

The trial of the paramilitary commander accused of carrying out or ordering crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Central African Republic (CAR) began on Monday in The Hague.

Kani - a top-ranking leader of the mostly-Muslim Séléka militia - pleaded not guilty to all charges, which relate to atrocities carried out in 2013, in the CAR, Bangui.

Much of the violence stemmed from clashes between Séléka and the mostly-Christian Anti-balaka faction, according to the UN.

The arrest warrant for Said indicated that women and girls were raped and gang-raped in front of their children or parents; some died as a result of their injuries..

Part of the civilian population was targeted through multiple acts of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape, persecution on political, ethnic and religious grounds, and pillaging of houses belonging to non-Muslims and others perceived to be complicit with or supportive of the government at the time.

Kani’s charge sheet includes imprisonment, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts committed in Bangui between approximately April and November 2013.

-0- PANA MA 28Sept2022