No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) welcomes the judgment handed down by Trial Chamber V of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against two anti-balaka militia senior leaders, as a significant step towards justice and redress for victims of the brutal conflict that took place in the Central African Republic in 2013-2014.
On 24 July 2025, ICC judges convicted Alfred Yékatom on charges involving 20 war crimes and crimes against humanity and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona on charges involving 28 war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the country between December 2013 and August 2014. The judges sentenced Yékatom to 15 years in prison and Ngaïssona to 12 years.
This judgment sends an unequivocal message to those responsible for the most serious crimes under international humanitarian law perpetrated against civilians: impunity is not an option, they will be brought to justice and held to account.
As much as trials such as this can and do contribute to the rule of law and deterrence nationally, regionally and internationally, we should never forget that they represent a chance for the people of CAR to have justice done, and to see justice being done.
We congratulate the Court for the central role it ensured to victims in the trial and look forward to all necessary steps be taken to ensure that affected communities in the Central African Republic learn about the judgment and next steps, including any appeals and reparation proceedings.
Sustained outreach and enhanced victims’ participation are also a relevant way for the Court to fulfil the greatest part of its role: delivering a sense of justice and accountability to victims of crimes it investigates and prosecutes.
