The International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially released an arrest warrant for Edmond Beina, a suspected militia leader accused of orchestrating atrocities in the Central African Republic (CAR). Beina is charged with committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, with allegations ranging from mass killings and murder to rape and persecution, reportedly targeting Muslim civilians in western CAR during 2014.
Although the warrant was initially issued in 2018, it has only recently been made public, shedding light on a series of brutal attacks attributed to Beina and his fighters. Prosecutors allege that Beina led a militia assault on a village, resulting in the deaths of numerous men and boys.
The Central African Republic has suffered waves of violent conflict since 2013, when Seleka rebels unseated former President Francois Bozize. The chaos that followed saw opposing militias launch retaliatory attacks on communities, displacing thousands and forcing many Muslims in the capital, Bangui, to flee in fear.
Prosecutors allege that Beina led militia forces in violent raids across the western village of Guen from February to April 2014. In one particular incident, Beina is accused of attacking a Muslim community leader’s compound, where around 300 displaced people, including women and children, had sought refuge. The warrant states that Beina separated men and boys from the group, then reportedly executed many of them with his rifle, before ordering his fighters to ensure there were no survivors. The ICC estimates that at least 42 Muslim men and boys were killed in this brutal attack.
Currently, three other suspected CAR militia members are on trial at the ICC, each facing charges linked to the years-long sectarian violence that has devastated the country.
With Beina’s case, the ICC continues its mission to bring perpetrators of war crimes to justice, emphasizing that accountability is crucial for sustainable peace in regions like the Central African Republic.
