Former Minister of Security, Emigration, Immigration and Public Order between 31 March and 22 August 2013, and the founder of the Convention des Patriotes pour la Justice et la Paix – Fondamentale (CPJP-F)
Arrest warrant: 7 January 2019; unsealed on 28 July 2022
National of the Central African Republic. Alleged former National Coordinator of Operations of the Anti-Balaka.
Arrest warrant: issued under seal on 10 December 2018
Alleged most senior leader and the "National General Coordinator" of the Anti-Balaka in Central African Republic (CAR).
National of the Central African Republic, born on 23 January 1975 in Bimbo. Former caporal-chef in the Forces Armées Centrafricaines, and a member of parliament in the CAR. Allegedly commanding a group of around 3,000 members operating within the Anti-Balaka movement. Also known as "Alfred Saragba", "Rombhot", "Rambo", "Rambot", "Rombot", "Rhombot", "Rombo", or "Romboht".
National of the Central African Republic, Seleka commander. Arrest warrant: issued under seal on 7 January 2019
Charges withdrawn
The warrant of arrest against Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka was issued under seal on 10 December 2018 for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Central African Republic. Mr Mokom was surrendered to the ICC on 14 March 2022.
On 22 March 2022, Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka made his first appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber II.
The confirmation of charges hearing commenced on 22 August 2023, but had not yet been concluded as the parties still had to submit written submissions on the merits of the case.
On 17 October 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II terminated the proceedings in the Mokom case and ordered Mr Mokom’s immediate release. Mr. Mokom was released from the ICC detention on the same day. The Chamber acted on the basis of the Prosecution’s notice of withdrawal of the charges against Mr Mokom, dated 16 October 2023. This notice asserts that there are relevant changes regarding the evidence in the case. Therefore, the Prosecution considers that, even if the charges would be confirmed by Pre-Trial Chamber II, there is no reasonable prospect for a conviction at trial.
The warrant of arrest against Mr Mahamat Said Abdel Kani also known as "Mahamat Said Abdel Kain" and "Mahamat Saïd Abdelkani" ("Mr Said") was issued under seal on 7 January 2019 for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Bangui (CAR) in 2013. Mr Said was surrendered to the ICC on 24 January 2021. The initial appearance of Mr Said before the Single Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II, Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala, took place on 28 and 29 January 2021. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 12 to 14 October 2021.
On 9 December 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber II partially confirmed the charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes brought by the Prosecutor against Mr Said and committed him to trial.
Next steps: The trial opened on 26 September 2022 and is ongoing.
Warrant of Arrest for Mahamat Said Abdel
Decision on the confirmation of charges against Mahamat Said Abdel Kani
Today, 24 January 2021, Mr Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, also known as "Mahamat Said Abdel Kain" and "Mahamat Saïd Abdelkani" ("Mr Said"), was surrendered to the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") by the authorities of the Central African Republic ("CAR") on account of an ICC warrant of arrest issued under seal on 7 January 2019. Mr Said is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Bangui (CAR) in 2013.
The arrest warrant for Alfred Yekatom was issued on 11 November 2018 and unsealed on 17 November 2018. He was surrendered to the ICC on 17 November 2018 and appeared for the first time before Pre-Trial Chamber II on 23 November 2018. The arrest warrant for Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona was issued on 7 December 2018. He was arrested by the authorities of the French Republic on 12 December 2018 and transferred to the ICC detention centre on 23 January 2019, upon completion of necessary national proceedings. His initial appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber II took place on 25 January 2019. On 20 February 2019, Pre-Trial Chamber II joined the Yekatom and Ngaïssona cases.
The confirmation of charges hearing was held on 19-25 September and 11 October 2019. On 11 December 2019, Pre-Trial Chamber II partially confirmed the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity brought by the Prosecutor against Mr Yekatom and Mr Ngaïssona and committed them to trial. The public redacted version of the decision on the confirmation of charges was published on 20 December 2019.
On 11 March 2020, Pre-Trial Chamber II rejected the Prosecution's Request for Reconsideration of, or alternatively Leave to Appeal, the "Decision on the confirmation of charges against Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona", thereby concluding the proceedings in the case before that Chamber, and ordering the Registrar to transmit the Decision Confirming the Charges and the record of the proceedings to the ICC Presidency. This was done on 13 March 2020. On 16 March 2020, the Presidency constituted Trial Chamber V to be in charge of this case and is composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt, Judge Péter Kovács and Judge Chang-ho Chung.
The trial opened on 16 February 2021 before Trial Chamber V. The prosecution called 75 witnesses to testify. The Legal Representatives of Victims also called three witnesses to testify.
On 28 November 2023, the Defence for Mr Yekatom made its opening statement. The Defence for Mr Ngaïssona had already presented its opening statement at the beginning of trial.
Mr Yekatom and Mr Ngaïssona are in the Court's custody.
Next steps: On 11 December 2023, the first witness is scheduled to be called by the Defence.