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| Edouard Ngaïssona and Alfred Yekatom jailed for war crimes in Central African Republic | Edouard Ngaïssona and Alfred Yekatom jailed for war crimes in Central African Republic |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Edouard Ngaïssona was elected to the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football in February 2018. | Edouard Ngaïssona was elected to the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football in February 2018. |
| The former head of the Central African Republic (CAR) football federation, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, has been found guilty of committing 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity by judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). | The former head of the Central African Republic (CAR) football federation, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, has been found guilty of committing 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity by judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). |
| He was accused, alongside Alfred Yekatom, of co-ordinating attacks against the country's Muslim population in 2013-14. | He was accused, alongside Alfred Yekatom, of co-ordinating attacks against the country's Muslim population in 2013-14. |
| Yekatom was found guilty of 20 charges. The judges gave their verdict after a trial lasting almost four years involving more than 170 witnesses and nearly 20,000 items of evidence. | Yekatom was found guilty of 20 charges. The judges gave their verdict after a trial lasting almost four years involving more than 170 witnesses and nearly 20,000 items of evidence. |
| Ngaïssona was sentenced to 12 years and Yekatom 15 years. | Ngaïssona was sentenced to 12 years and Yekatom 15 years. |
| Violence has gripped the CAR for much of the past decade, but a recent peace deal led to the dissolution of two rebel groups this month. | Violence has gripped the CAR for much of the past decade, but a recent peace deal led to the dissolution of two rebel groups this month. |
| CAR was plunged into turmoil in 2013 when predominately Muslim rebels from the Séléka group seized power in the majority Christian country. | CAR was plunged into turmoil in 2013 when predominately Muslim rebels from the Séléka group seized power in the majority Christian country. |
| A band of mostly Christian militias, called the anti-Balaka, rose up to counter Séléka after then-President François Bozizé was ousted. | A band of mostly Christian militias, called the anti-Balaka, rose up to counter Séléka after then-President François Bozizé was ousted. |
| Ngaïssona and Yekatom were convicted of numerous crimes, including murder, torture and persecuting a religious group. | Ngaïssona and Yekatom were convicted of numerous crimes, including murder, torture and persecuting a religious group. |
| The prosecution set out the alleged system of command, saying Ngaïssona provided funds and instructions to anti-Balaka groups in 2013 and 2014. | The prosecution set out the alleged system of command, saying Ngaïssona provided funds and instructions to anti-Balaka groups in 2013 and 2014. |
| Yekatom, nicknamed Rambo, was a commander who allegedly led fighters into the capital, Bangui, on 5 December 2013 where civilians were slaughtered. | Yekatom, nicknamed Rambo, was a commander who allegedly led fighters into the capital, Bangui, on 5 December 2013 where civilians were slaughtered. |
| The prosecution said the pair's strategy was to make all Muslims their target, describing them as "enemies of the nation". | The prosecution said the pair's strategy was to make all Muslims their target, describing them as "enemies of the nation". |
| Yekatom authorised his fighters to attack Muslim civilians, including to slit throats, cut off ears and bury people alive, the prosecution alleged. | Yekatom authorised his fighters to attack Muslim civilians, including to slit throats, cut off ears and bury people alive, the prosecution alleged. |
| Asked to enter a plea at the start of the trial, both men rejected all the charges. | Asked to enter a plea at the start of the trial, both men rejected all the charges. |
| Media reports at the time indicates that at least 1,000 people were killed in tit-for-tat clashes in Bangui in December 2013, and half the city's population fled in that month alone. | Media reports at the time indicates that at least 1,000 people were killed in tit-for-tat clashes in Bangui in December 2013, and half the city's population fled in that month alone. |
| Who is Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona? | Who is Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona? |
| He was the self-declared political co-ordinator of anti-Balaka forces. | He was the self-declared political co-ordinator of anti-Balaka forces. |
| Ngaïssona was barred from running for CAR president in 2015 because of his alleged role in the atrocities. | Ngaïssona was barred from running for CAR president in 2015 because of his alleged role in the atrocities. |
| He is a former head of the CAR's football federation and briefly served as sports minister before being elected to the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) in February 2018. | He is a former head of the CAR's football federation and briefly served as sports minister before being elected to the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) in February 2018. |
| His appointment was criticised by several human rights groups. | His appointment was criticised by several human rights groups. |
| "If the allegations were true, I wouldn't be here today," he told AFP news agency at the time. "[I don't] mix politics and sport - everything I've done has been for the good of my country." | "If the allegations were true, I wouldn't be here today," he told AFP news agency at the time. "[I don't] mix politics and sport - everything I've done has been for the good of my country." |
| French authorities arrested him in December 2018 and he was transferred to the ICC in January 2019. | French authorities arrested him in December 2018 and he was transferred to the ICC in January 2019. |
| Who is Alfred Yekatom? | Who is Alfred Yekatom? |
| Yekatom was elected as an MP in 2016, despite being subject to UN sanctions. | Yekatom was elected as an MP in 2016, despite being subject to UN sanctions. |
| He was arrested in October 2018 after he fired a gun in parliament, then ran away, after a row with a fellow MP. | He was arrested in October 2018 after he fired a gun in parliament, then ran away, after a row with a fellow MP. |
| His extradition to the ICC was the first from CAR. | His extradition to the ICC was the first from CAR. |
| The International Federation for Human Rights (known by its French acronym FIDH) said it signalled the authorities there were committed to fighting impunity. | The International Federation for Human Rights (known by its French acronym FIDH) said it signalled the authorities there were committed to fighting impunity. |
| More about CAR from the BBC: | More about CAR from the BBC: |
| Grenade attack survivor sings for peace | Grenade attack survivor sings for peace |
| Central African Republic's road to anarchy | |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |