Archive · 25 Nov 2025
ICC Prosecutors Accuse Militia Leader of Prison Abuse
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is trying a man named Mahamat Said Abdel Kani.
Prosecutors say he was a leader of a group called Seleka in the Central African Republic.
They accuse him of running a prison where people were held unfairly and treated badly.
These people were mostly Christians and were arrested because of their politics, ethnicity, religion, or gender.
Said denies the charges.
The ICC has been looking into violence in the country since 2014 and has convicted other leaders from a group called anti-Balaka.
This is the first trial for a Seleka member.
ICC prosecutors accuse Mahamat Said Abdel Kani of overseeing a prison with inhumane conditions.
Said is charged with seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Victims were mostly Christian and were detained for political, ethnic, religious, or gender reasons.
Said denies the charges, with his defense to present closing arguments later.
This is the first trial of a Seleka member by the ICC, which has been investigating violence in the Central African Republic since 2014.
- Who
- Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, a suspected Seleka militia leader
- What
- Alleged control over a prison where inmates were abused
- When
- Over a decade ago, during the Central African Republic's civil war
- Where
- Central African Republic
- Why
- To detain and abuse suspected supporters of then-President Francois Bozize
- Suspect
- Mahamat Said Abdel Kani
- Charges
- Seven charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity
- Location
- Central African Republic
- Time Period
- Over a decade ago
- Victims
- Mostly Christian faith
- Militia Group
- Seleka
- ICC Investigation Start
- May 2014