By Susan Kendi
A second suspect arrested in connection with crimes in Central African Republic has been transferred to the International Criminal Court.
Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona was arrested by French authorities on December 12, 2018 for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Central African Republic.
This came five days after Pre Trial Chamber II of the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him for his alleged participation in atrocities committed in the western part of CAR between December 2013 and December 2014.
The ICC registrar, Mr Peter Lewis, requested Ngaïssona’s arrest and surrender to the Court once the national proceedings were completed.
The three-judge panel of Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua (presiding) and Tomoko Akane and Rosario Salvatore Aitala said it was satisfied by the material submitted that the case against Ngaïssona falls within the jurisdiction of the court, and that there was a widespread and systematic attack carried out by a predominantly Christian countermovement, the anti-Balaka, against armed groups predominantly composed of Muslims known as Seleka in the one-year period.
It is alleged that Ngaïssona was the senior most leader of the anti-Balaka and is said to be responsible for crimes committed in Bangui, Bossangoa, the Lobaye Prefecture, Yaloké, Gaga, Bossemptélé, Boda, Carnot and Berberati during the period under review.
The Central African Republic government referred the situation in the country to the ICC on May 30, 2014.
The prosecutor made an application for an arrest warrant for Patrice Edouard Ngaïssona on October 3,2018 and the Court issued the warrant of arrest in December same year.
Links to the ICC documents:
www.icc-cpi.int/CourtRecords/CR2018_05929.PDF
