ICC convicts Central African Republic rebel commander Mahamat Said of crimes against humanity

The International Criminal Court has convicted former Central African Republic militia commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani of crimes against humanity over abuses committed in Bangui. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday and centred on torture and unlawful imprisonment at a detention centre run by the Central Office for the Repression of Banditry. The court said Said oversaw the facility during the country's civil war, which began in 2013.

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Judges found Said guilty on four counts of crimes against humanity, while acquitting him of three counts of war crimes. Presiding judge Miatta Maria Samba said the evidence showed beatings, maltreatment and other forms of abuse against detainees. The court also said a torture method known as arbatachar was used, in which prisoners' hands, elbows and feet were tied tightly behind their backs.

The ruling described conditions in the Bangui detention centre as severe and degrading. According to the court, some detainees were kept in a cramped underground cell under Said's office without sanitary facilities, ventilation or adequate space. The judge said prisoners were forced to urinate and defecate inside the cell, which was described as dark, dirty and covered in waste.

The conviction is significant because it adds to international efforts to hold figures from the Central African Republic conflict accountable for abuses committed during the sectarian war. Said was a senior commander in the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition, which ousted President François Bozizé and helped trigger a wider period of violence in the country. The case also highlights the role of the ICC in prosecuting alleged crimes where domestic justice systems have struggled to address wartime abuses.

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During the hearing, Said, who is 56, was seen shaking his head as the judge outlined the findings. The court said he was involved in interrogating detainees and was present when some were tortured. Victims testified about the long-term impact of the abuse on their lives and families, and the court acknowledged their suffering and trauma.

Sentencing will take place at a later date, and the full consequences of the verdict will depend on that stage of the proceedings. It remains unclear whether there will be any further legal challenges or related cases arising from the same detention centre. For now, the ruling marks a major step in a case tied to some of the most serious allegations from the early years of the Central African Republic conflict.

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