Time to get ready: Initial appearance of 1st #Seleka suspect transferred to @IntlCrimCourt from the Central African Republic, Mahamat Saïd Abdel Kani, to take place Thursday, Jan 28 at 10am CET at: https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=ma257 #ICC

“Said’s arrest is an important step for ensuring that justice is not–nor seen to be–one-sided.” This & more from @hrw on his transfer at https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/01/25/central-african-republic-first-seleka-suspect-icc-custody. #Said arrived at the #ICC Sunday, 2 weeks ahead of the ICC's trial against two anti-balaka leaders from #CARcrisis.

#Said is accused of crimes against humanity-imprisonment or other severe deprivation of liberty, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance, & other inhumane acts; & war crimes-torture & cruel treatment. @hrw has documented wide abuses by #Seleka, e.g. https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/06/27/central-african-republic-seleka-forces-kill-scores-burn-villages

In 2012, the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President #Bozizé & seized power through a campaign of terror: https://www.hrw.org/report/2013/09/18/i-can-still-smell-dead/forgotten-human-rights-crisis-central-african-republic

Christian militias called anti-balaka then engaged in brutal tit-for-tat attacks with the Seleka, leaving civilians caught in the middle. Read @hrw in depth report on crimes by both sides at: https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/07/05/killing-without-consequence/war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-and-special

Just this month, there's been an upsurge in violence around the presidential election led by a new rebel coalition and fueled by impunity. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/23/central-african-republic-rebel-violence-threatens-elections

But the "arrest of the first Seleka suspect, & impending trial of anti-balaka leaders, should send a powerful signal to those committing crimes at this very moment. Would-be perpetrators should realize they too could find themselves in the dock.” @hrw at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/01/25/central-african-republic-first-seleka-suspect-icc-custody

For an interesting profile of #Said from @justiceinfonet, check out: https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/68773-central-african-republic-warning-icc.html

And a good piece from @RFI_En on the transfer: https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20210125-wanted-car-rebel-handed-over-to-international-criminal-court-bangui-seleka-francois-bozize-united-nations-violence #CARcrisis #ICC

Ultimately, #Said's case should be one of more involving #Seleka crimes - particularly of higher level suspects. But the transfer and upcoming proceedings are an important start. Victims have suffered far too long amid rampant impunity in the #CARcrisis.