International Criminal Court: Alfred Yekatom Makes First Appearance

A former anti-Balaka militia leader and serving parliamentarian in the Central African Republic, CAR, Alfred Yekatom, alias Rombhot, is to make his initial appearance before judges of the International Criminal Court, ICC, in The Hague, The Netherlands, on Friday, November 23, 2018. According to a release on ICC’s website, Yekatom will face Pre-trial Chamber II composed of Presiding Judge Antoine Kesia?Mbe Mindua, Judge Tomoko Akane and Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala.

The initial appearance hearing is for the Chamber to verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceedings. Thereafter, he will be informed of the charges retained against him, the statement said. Yekatom was handed over to the ICC on November 17, 2018 by his country’s judicial authorities following a warrant of arrest issued on November 11, 2018 for alleged criminal responsibility. He is blamed for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in western CAR between December 2013 and August 2014 at the height of sectarian fighting between Muslim-leaning Séléka militia and the Christian-dominated anti-Balaka militia.

 “Alfred Yekatom is known to have com...