Situation referred to the ICC by the CAR Government: May 2014
ICC investigations opened: September 2014
Current focus: Alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the context of renewed violence starting in 2012 in CAR. (See CAR I regarding the 2002/2003 conflict in CAR.)
Current regional focus: Throughout CAR
Pre-Trial Chamber II
Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala (Presiding Judge)Judge Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua
Judge Tomoko Akane
DOCUMENTS
Jurisdiction in the general situation
On 3 October 2001, CAR ratified the Rome Statute and on 30 May 2014, it referred the situation in its territory since 1 August 2012 to the ICC. The ICC may exercise its jurisdiction over crimes listed in the Rome Statute committed on the territory of CAR or by its nationals from 1 July 2002 onwards, and in this specific situation is focussing on alleged crimes committed since 1 August 2012.
Context and alleged crimes
The ICC's investigation in CAR II focussed on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the context of a conflict in CAR since 1 August 2012. The 2012 conflict reportedly involved alleged crimes by both Muslim Séléka and Christian anti-balaka groups; the violence allegedly led to thousands of deaths and left hundreds of thousands displaced. The UN has also issued warnings of the high risk of genocide in CAR.
In opening the investigation in September 2014, the Office of the Prosecutor issued a press release stating: "The information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that both the Séléka and the anti-balaka groups have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes including murder, rape, forced displacement, persecution, pillaging, attacks against humanitarian missions and the use of children under fifteen in combat. The list of atrocities is endless. I cannot ignore these alleged crimes."
The Prosecutor alleges that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the following crimes have been committed in CAR since 2012:
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war crimes: murder, rape, pillaging, attacks against humanitarian missions, and the use of children under fifteen in combat; and
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crimes against humanity: murder, rape, forced displacement, and persecution
3
Cases
2
Ongoing Trials
5
Warrants of arrest
4
In custody
1
At large
Cases
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.
Mr Yekatom and Mr Ngaïssona are in the Court's custody.
Next steps: On 18 September 2023, the Legal Representatives of Victims will start presenting evidence before Trial Chamber V and are expected to call three witnesses. Then it will be for the Defense to present its evidence.
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. No hearing in this case are scheduled in the coming months. Hearings updates will be shared in due course.
Warrant of Arrest for Mahamat Said Abdel
Decision on the confirmation of charges against Mahamat Said Abdel Kani
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.
On 22 – 24 August 2023, the confirmation of charges hearing in this case was held before Pre-Trial Chamber II to determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the suspect committed each of the crimes charged.
Next steps: The Defence, Prosecutor and the Legal representatives of victims will have until 14 September 2023 to complete their presentations by way of written submissions, to which the Defence and Prosecution can respond by 26 September 2023 at the latest, while the Defence may reply by 2 October 2023. Within 60 days from the receipt of the Defence’s reply on 2 October 2023, the judges will issue their decision. The Pre-Trial Chamber may then:
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confirm those charges for which the Chamber has determined that there is sufficient evidence, and commit the suspect to trial before a Trial Chamber;
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decline to confirm those charges for which it has determined that there is insufficient evidence and stop the proceedings against Mr Mokom;
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adjourn the hearing and request the Prosecutor to provide further evidence, to conduct further investigations or to amend any charge for which the evidence submitted appears to establish t a crime other than the one charged was committed.