Former Central African Republic football chief Patrice Edouard Ngaissona has pleaded not guilty today for war crimes charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Ngaissona was charged for crimes against humanity including murder, extermination, deportation, persecution, torture, attacking civilians, and recruiting child soldiers during CAR civil war in 2013 and 2014.
Dressed in a suit and tie and standing between two security men, Ngaissona denied the charges as they were read out to him by prosecutors before the ICC court in Hague.
“I do not recognize myself at all in the charges against me, I am not guilty,” Ngaissona said.
The 53-year-old was described by the prosecutor as the “senior leader” of anti-Balaka armed movement that murdered thousands and displaced millions mostly Muslims during CAR civil war nine years ago.
“The events are shocking to the conscience and so arresting in scale that they transgress the very nature of our humanity.
“The victims deserve to be seen, they deserve to be heard and they deserve their day in court.”
Ngoissana is a former head of the CAR’s football federation and briefly served as sports minister before being elected to the CAF as Executive Committee Member for Central Zone.
He was barred from running for CAR president in 2015 because of his alleged role in atrocities.
