ICC judges unseal arrest warrant for alleged Central African Republic rebel

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 

Judges astatine the International Criminal Court connected Thursday unsealed an apprehension warrant for an alleged rebel from the Central African Republic accused of warfare crimes and crimes against humanity including murder, extermination, rape and persecution much than a decennary ago.

According to his warrant, which was primitively issued nether seal successful 2018, Edmond Beina commanded a radical of astir 100 to 400 fighters liable for murdering Muslims successful aboriginal 2014 successful a colony successful the westbound of the impoverished nation.

Prosecutors accidental Beina's radical was portion of the anti-Balaka, a chiefly Christian militia that fought against the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebel unit successful 2013-2014. The warring near thousands dormant and displaced hundreds of thousands.

The Central African Republic has been plagued by unit since 2013, erstwhile Seleka rebels forced then-President Francois Bozize from office. Anti-Balaka militias fought back, besides targeting civilians and sending astir of the Muslim residents of the capital, Bangui, fleeing successful fear.

ICC judges said successful a written ruling that they unsealed the warrant for Beina's apprehension aft authorities successful the Central African Republic challenged the admissibility of the case. The tribunal did not uncover details of the challenge.

Prosecutors allege that Beina was progressive successful crimes successful the colony of Guen successful the country's westbound from February to April, 2014, including murdering Muslim civilians. He besides commanded different fighters who carried retired crimes, his warrant says.

In 1 incident, prosecutors allege that Beina and his fighters stormed the compound of a Muslim assemblage person successful Guen, wherever astir 300 displaced people, including women and children were sheltering.

"Beina separated the civilians into groups and, astatine gunpoint, ordered the men and boys to prevarication down. Then, Beina summarily executed respective Muslim men and boys with his Kalashnikov rifle, emptying 1 mag and another," the warrant said.

"Beina ordered his men to decorativeness disconnected immoderate survivors," it added, saying that astatine slightest 42 Muslim men and boys were killed successful the attack.

Three different alleged rebels from the Central African Republic are presently connected proceedings astatine the tribunal for their alleged roles successful the sectarian unit successful the country.