ICC convicts former Central African Republic militia commander of torture

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Judges at the International Criminal Court on Wednesday convicted former Seleka rebel commander Mahamat Remarked Abdel Kani of persecution and torture as crimes against humanity committed while he ran a prison in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.

What happened

Remarked, 56, remained expressionless for most of the hourlong hearing as presiding Judge Miatta Maria Samba described the conditions detainees endured at the prison.

During the trial, some witnesses described cramped cells with walls marked by "bullet holes and blood" and remarked they were whipped "until they soiled themselves, " the presiding judge stated. Other witnesses testified that they were confined in a windowless room beneath the floorboards of Said's office.

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around ICC convicts former Central African Republic militia commander of torture point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.