The Prosecutor v. Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona

Case Sheet · ICC

Situation	Situation in the Central African Republic II
Status	Trial Stage

Context

Alfred Yekatom, also known as "Rombhot", was a commander of the anti-Balaka militia in the Central African Republic. Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona was the national coordinator of the anti-Balaka. Both are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Bangui and the west of the Central African Republic between September 2013 and at least February 2014. The cases were joined on 20 February 2019. On 24 July 2025, Trial Chamber V found both accused guilty and sentenced Yekatom to 15 years and Ngaïssona to 12 years of imprisonment. Both sentences are under appeal.

Pre-Trial — Alfred Yekatom

Arrest warrant	11 November 2018 (under seal) · Unsealed 17 November 2018
Transfer to ICC	17 November 2018
Initial appearance	23 November 2018
Crimes at arrest warrant	Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer · art. 7(1)(d) RS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 7(1)(e) RS Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS Crime against humanity of enforced disappearance · art. 7(1)(i) RS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of mutilation · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-2 RS War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS War crime of attacking protected objects · art. 8(2)(e)(iv) RS War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(e)(vii) RS War crime of displacing civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(viii) RS War crime of destroying or seizing the enemy's property · art. 8(2)(e)(xii) RS

Pre-Trial — Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona

Arrest warrant	7 December 2018
Arrest	12 December 2018 · France
Transfer to ICC	23 January 2019
Initial appearance	25 January 2019
Crimes at arrest warrant	Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 7(1)(b) RS Crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer · art. 7(1)(d) RS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 7(1)(e) RS Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS Crime against humanity of enforced disappearance · art. 7(1)(i) RS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of mutilation · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-2 RS War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS War crime of attacking personnel involved in a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission · art. 8(2)(e)(iii) RS War crime of attacking protected objects · art. 8(2)(e)(iv) RS War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(e)(vii) RS War crime of displacing civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(viii) RS War crime of destroying or seizing the enemy's property · art. 8(2)(e)(xii) RS

Joint Pre-Trial

Joinder of cases	20 February 2019
Confirmation of charges hearing	2–5 September 2019
Result of confirmation of charges	11 December 2019 · Charges partially confirmed for both accused
Crimes charged — Yekatom	Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer · art. 7(1)(d) RS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 7(1)(e) RS Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS War crime of attacking protected objects · art. 8(2)(e)(iv) RS War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(e)(vii) RS War crime of displacing civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(viii) RS
Crimes charged — Ngaïssona	Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer · art. 7(1)(d) RS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 7(1)(e) RS Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS War crime of attacking protected objects · art. 8(2)(e)(iv) RS War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-1 RS War crime of displacing civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(viii) RS War crime of destroying or seizing the enemy's property · art. 8(2)(e)(xii) RS

Trial

Trial opening	16–18 February 2021
Closing statements	9–12 December 2024
Trial judgment	24 July 2025 · Both convicted
Crimes at trial judgment — Yekatom	Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer · art. 7(1)(d) RS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 7(1)(e) RS Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS War crime of attacking protected objects · art. 8(2)(e)(iv) RS War crime of displacing civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(viii) RS
Crimes at trial judgment — Ngaïssona	Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer · art. 7(1)(d) RS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 7(1)(e) RS Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 7(1)(h) RS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS War crime of attacking protected objects · art. 8(2)(e)(iv) RS War crime of displacing civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(viii) RS War crime of destroying or seizing the enemy's property · art. 8(2)(e)(xii) RS
Sentence — Yekatom	24 July 2025 · 15 years of imprisonment
Sentence — Ngaïssona	24 July 2025 · 12 years of imprisonment
Appeals	26 September 2025 · Notices of appeal filed by both Defence teams and the Prosecution · Pending before the Appeals Chamber

Key Documents

Warrant of arrest — Yekatom	Warrant of Arrest for Alfred Yekatom (2018)
Warrant of arrest — Ngaïssona	Warrant of Arrest for Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona (2018)
Decision on joinder	Decision Joining the Cases of Yekatom and Ngaïssona (2019)
Confirmation of charges decision	Decision on Confirmation of Charges (2019)
Trial judgment	Trial Judgment (24 July 2025)
ICC case page	Official ICC page — The Prosecutor v. Yekatom and Ngaïssona