BANGUI: Central African Republic (CAR) lawmaker and former militia leader Alfred Yekatom was extradited to The Hague on Saturday to stand trial at the International Criminal Court probing war crimes and crimes against humanity, the first such move by the conflict-ridden country.

A government source said the charges against Yekatom, a former militia leader within the so-called anti-balaka movement involved in sectarian bloodletting, were not specified.

“The plane will arrive in The Hague at about 2030 GMT,” the source said.

The ICC launched an investigation in Septem­ber 2014 into crimes committed in the country since 2012.

Yekatom’s militia operated in the south of the country. In 2015, he became the target of US sanctions for suspected attacks against Muslims, civilian deaths, and for using 153 child fighters.

A former army officer, Yekatom was elected to parliament in 2016. He was arrested in October for opening fire inside the legislature while its new president was being elected.

“It’s a strong message to the leaders of armed gro­ups,” said Pierre Brunisso from the International Federation of Human Rights watchdog.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2018