CAR ‘militia leaders’ plead not guilty to war crimes at ICC trial

Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona and Alfred Yekatom accused of leading militias in widespread attacks on Muslims.

Two men accused of leading Christian-dominated militias in widespread attacks on Muslims in the Central African Republic (CAR) have rejected all charges against them at the start of their trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday. Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, a former African football executive who prosecutors say was a senior leader of the so-called Anti-balaka militias in 2013 and 2014, and Alfred Yekatom, also known as Rambo, pleaded not guilty to charges relating to attacks on Muslim civilians. “I do not recognise myself at all in the charges against me. I am not guilty,” Ngaissona, 53, said.