The International Criminal Court on Wednesday convicted former Central African Republic militia leader Mahamat Said Abdel Kani of crimes against humanity, including torture and persecution.
Judges found Said guilty on four counts linked to the abuse of suspected supporters of former President Francois Bozize in the capital, Bangui.
Prosecutors said Said helped run a detention centre where prisoners believed to support Bozize were beaten and tortured. He had denied all charges.
Presiding Judge Miatta Maria Samba said Said and others oversaw the mistreatment of detainees as part of a coordinated effort to target people perceived as Bozize supporters.
The court dismissed several war crimes charges, ruling that the armed conflict relevant to those allegations had already ended by the time the crimes were committed.
Said showed no visible reaction as the verdict was delivered. A separate hearing will be held to determine his sentence.
The Seleka, a predominantly Muslim rebel coalition whose name means “alliance” in the Sango language, seized power in the Central African Republic in 2013 and ousted Bozize.
Its rise triggered the emergence of largely Christian and animist anti-Balaka militias, deepening a cycle of violence that engulfed the country.
The ICC has investigated crimes committed during the Central African Republic conflict since 2014. It has previously convicted two anti-Balaka leaders, while Said is the first former Seleka member to be convicted by the court.
