Maxime Mokom, former leader of the anti-balaka militias, released in October 2023 by the International Criminal Court (ICC), is now demanding compensation from the ICC. The Central African had been imprisoned for 19 months for crimes against humanity and alleged war crimes, on suspicions surrounding the 2013-2014 crisis. But, almost a year ago, the prosecutor withdrew these charges, claiming that he no longer had the necessary evidence to obtain the conviction of the former militiaman.
2 min
With our correspondent in The Hague, Stephanie Maupas
The Maxime Mokom case is once again on the agenda of the hearings of the International Criminal Court (ICC). After 19 months in the jurisdiction’s prison, Former anti-balaka leader released in October 2023 even before his trial. The prosecutor had withdrawn the charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, claiming that he no longer had the necessary evidence to obtain Maxime Mokom’s conviction. The dropping of charges was justified by the unavailability of witnesses. The militiaman was facing 20 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in 2013 and 2014 in Central African Republic (RCA).
Without assistance from the Court, the former detainee applied for asylum in a European country and is claiming nearly 3 million euros in damages from the ICC and an additional 500,000 euros for his family.
” I was thrown out on the street by the ICC »
” I was thrown out into the street by the International Criminal Court »: before the judges, Maxime Mokom denounced the arrest warrant issued against him, his 19 months in detention and the conditions of his release.
Maxime Mokom would have liked the Court to find a country of exile since he could not return to Chad – where he was arrested in 2022 – or to Bangui: ” The Court was also informed that I could not return to the Central African Republic in view of the persecution suffered by any dissident figure in power. »
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Shortly before his release, the former anti-Balaka leader was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment by a Bangui court. The registry explained during the hearing that the Court is not obliged to contact all States to find him asylum.
The former anti-balaka leader, who spoke via video conference, himself started an asylum procedure in Europe and above all demands compensation for past damages. Others before him have asked the Court for such compensation after their acquittal. But they were dismissed.
Arrested in 2022 in Chad, Maxime Mokom spent 19 months in the prison of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC had announced on October 19, 2023 the release of a former leader of Central African anti-balaka militias due to .
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