French authorities have arrested a man suspected a man suspected of committing war crimes in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) and he faces extradition to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Hague-based court said on Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona was the “senior leader” of the Anti-Balaka militia that was behind systematic attacks on the country’s Muslim population in 2013-2014. He has however denied any wrongdoing.
Ngaissona was in February elected to the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) despite objections from groups including Human Rights Watch.
The ICC said Ngaissona is suspected of committing war crimes including murder, deportation, prosecution, torture, extermination, attacking civilians and recruiting child soldiers.
A chamber at the Hague-based court “found reasonable grounds to believe Ngaissona is liable for having committed jointly with others… the abovementioned crimes.”
Ethnic and religious conflict has raged for years in Central African Republic. Christian Anti-Balaka militias have been fighting mainly Muslim Seleka rebels after the rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in 2013. Thousands have died in the violence.
A court spokesman confirmed French authorities had carried out the arrest after the warrant was issued on December 7. The ICC had formally requested Ngaissona’s transfer.
