After more than five years of legal proceedings, the International Criminal Court delivered its long-awaited verdict on Thursday in the trial of former anti-Balaka militia leaders Alfred Yakaton and Patrice Edouard Nengantona, a 15-year sentence in prison for Yakaton and 12 years for Yengantona
Both were found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the intercommunal conflict
that shook the Central African Republic between 2013 and 2014. Reactions to the verdict were stark in Bangui
This trial took a long time and there were deaths. We are satisfied because Nengensana was sentenced to 12 years
and Yakutom, also known as Rambo, to 15 years in prison. For us victims, what we ask of the courts now is to consider how it can provide reparations
We thought the judges as wise individuals who could carefully reflect and yse the situation
that Central Africans across the country experienced in 2013 and 2014 in order to deliver a fair ruling
Unfortunately, I can tell that they were influenced by the Bangui regime
They imposed charges that do not reflect the reality of former President Patrice-Edouard
Nguyen Sona and Rambo are sons of this country. They were my Central African brothers despite
their crimes. There is justice here in the Central African Republic. They could have
been tried here. Their presence at the ICC brings us nothing and will not help rebuild
our country. We should bring them back here, try them and forgive them so we can move forward
Some victims and human rights groups are also calling for the warlords who recently signed a peace deal with the government to be held accountable
They argue that without justice on all sides, it will be difficult for the country to achieve lasting peace, especially with upcoming elections quickly approaching