International Criminal Court convicts former Central African Republic militia commander of torture and persecution

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the International Criminal Court in The Hague convicted Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, a former Seleka rebel commander from the Central African Republic, of crimes against humanity including persecution and torture. The crimes were committed while he ran a prison in Bangui, where suspected supporters of then-President Francois Bozize were beaten and tortured. Said denied all charges. The judges dismissed several war crimes charges, finding the armed conflict had ended. A separate hearing will determine his sentence. This is the first conviction of a Seleka member by the ICC.