A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic has sentenced six rebel commanders to lengthy prison terms ranging from 18 to 25 years for war crimes committed during fierce intercommunal violence in 2020.
The convictions stem from weeks of brutal clashes that erupted in March 2020 between rival ethnic groups in the northern town of Ndele, leaving more than 90 people dead and dozens injured. Hundreds of homes were destroyed or looted as fighting engulfed the area.
The violence was triggered when the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (FPRC), one of the country’s most powerful militias, split in late 2019, leading to open conflict between its factions. Government forces eventually intervened to bring the bloodshed to an end.
The Special Criminal Court in Bangui, which combines local and international judges, found the six rebel leaders guilty of orchestrating a “systematic and widespread attack” against civilians. The court was established to investigate war crimes and serious human rights violations committed in the Central African Republic since 2003—a nation plagued for decades by conflict, coups and authoritarian rule.
Amnesty International praised Thursday’s verdict, describing it as a significant step in tackling impunity and shedding light on the atrocities committed. However, the trial focused only on one faction involved in the fighting; a separate trial last December convicted members of the opposing group.
Although a 2019 peace deal with 14 armed groups helped the government regain control of major towns and reduce violence overall, some rebel groups still operate in rural areas. Sporadic fighting continues between the rebels and national army forces, which are supported by Russian Wagner mercenaries and Rwandan troops.
