Panafrican News Agency

ICC prosecutor welcomes arrest of alleged Seleka Commander in CAR

The Hague, Netherlands (PANA) - International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has welcomed the arrest and surrender to the court of war crimes suspect Mahamat Saïd Abdel Kani of the Central Africa Republic (CAR).

Mr. Saïd, an alleged member of the CAR rebel group, Seleka, was wanted to face charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the CAR.

He is the third suspect arrested in connection with the ongoing ICC investigation into the crimes against humanity and war crimes. 

The ICC Prosecutor said the arrest was based on the evidence collected in the course of investigations into the violence in the country.

The prosecution alleges that Mr. Saïd is criminally responsible for several counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in CAR between April and November 2013.  

"My office will relentlessly pursue justice for the victims of atrocity crimes in CAR," Bensouda said.

"This development is an important step in the fulfilment of our mandate in CAR. We will continue to exert all efforts to hold to account those responsible for atrocity crimes in CAR, irrespective of which side of the conflict they may be on," Bensouda said in a statement on Monday.

The war crimes suspect was surrendered to the ICC by the authorities of CAR on account of a warrant of arrest issued under seal on 7 January 2019.

Mr. Saïd is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Bangui, the capital of CAR, in 2013. 

When issuing the warrant of arrest, the Single Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II, Rosario Salvatore Aitala, found that there were reasonable grounds to believe that an armed conflict not of an international character was ongoing in CAR from at least March 2013 until at least January 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.

The Judge ruled there was reasonable grounds to believe that, from at least March 2013 until at least January 2014, a widespread and systematic attack was conducted by members of the Seleka against the civilian population and those perceived to be collectively responsible for, complicit with or supportive of the former Bozizé government and, later, of the Anti-Balaka.

The Single Judge found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Saïd, a national of the Central African Republic, born on 25 February 1970 in Bria, was a Seleka commander.

The prosecutor hailed witnesses from CAR for stepping forward to provide evidence.

"Without their courage and engagement, the cause of justice would not make progress," she added.  

The prosecutor said investigations were ongoing and the ICC was continuing to closely follow events on the ground in CAR.

The prosecutor said she was worried about the security situation and reports of serious violence and crimes committed against civilians, as well as international peacekeepers.

-0- PANA AO/MA 26Jan2021