Before the ICC, former Seleka commander Mahamat Saïd Abdel Kani pleads not guilty
Former Seleka commander Mahamat Saïd Abdel Kani before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, September 26, 2022. AP - Peter Dejong
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The former Seleka commander is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed between April and August 2013. At the time, he headed the Central Office for the Repression of Banditry in Bangui where many detainees would have been tortured.
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With our correspondent in The Hague,
Stéphanie Maupas
Standing in front of the three judges, Mahamat Saïd Abdel Kani pleaded "not guilty" to the seven charges before giving the floor to the prosecutor.
The prosecution detailed its case.
The intermediary role of Mahamat Saïd, who passed on the orders issued by Chief Nourredine Adam to the militiamen present at the Central Office for the Suppression of Banditry (OCRB).
Detainees were held there in appalling conditions, often beaten and sometimes tortured.
They were all targeted for their supposed support for ousted President François Bozizé.
For prosecutor Karim Khan, these acts are part of a larger plan to retain power.
“
The charges of imprisonment, persecution, torture are the consequences of repeated acts.
It's entrenched violence between the anti-balaka and the Seleka,
said Karim Khan.
It is a tragedy of so many countries and it is certainly the tragedy of the Central African Republic, that these groups focused for power and not for the interest of the people who, all too often, have been caught up or targeted and suffered, like a pawn in a larger game.
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To read also: First trial against a former Seleka militiaman before the International Criminal Court
The representatives of the victims admitted to the file then took the floor.
Twenty victims are recorded in this case.
They experienced the cells and the dungeon of the OCRB, beatings with truncheons and for some, the arbatachar, a method of torture approved by Mahamat Saïd, according to the prosecution.
The lawyer from the victims' representation office at the Court described the after-effects, disabilities and nightmares that have haunted them for almost 10 years.
Maître Sarah Pellet also mentioned the obstacles to reconstruction.
"
In addition to the physical and psychological consequences, all need to understand the reasons for these inhuman treatments in order to try to rebuild their lives on better foundations and try to forget, even if the security climate that prevails today in the Central African Republic does not contribute to their daily well-being.
Indeed, their executioners of yesteryear have been incorporated either into the army, the gendarmerie and the police, or continue to occupy high positions within the Central African administration
”.
"
It's the price of peace
," said one of these victims.
If at the end of this trial, the accused is found guilty by the judges, they will be able to request reparations.
But it will take several more years before the procedure is closed.
In the meantime, the floor is now up to the defence, after which the prosecution can call its first witness.
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Central African Republic
International justice
Seleka