{
  "id": 9360315,
  "title": "International Criminal Court convicts Central African militia leader",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/international-criminal-court-convicts-central-african-militia-leader",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T13:13:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/international-criminal-court-convicts-central-african-militia-leader/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Criminal Court (ICC) handed down a conviction on Wednesday, sentencing a former leader of the Seleka militia from the Central African Republic to charges of crimes against humanity, including torture. Prosecutors alleged that Mahamat Said Abdel Kani oversaw a prison where detainees, suspected supporters of then-President Francois Bozize, suffered severe physical abuse. Kani, who vehemently denied the accusations, was found guilty on four counts, including persecution and torture. The court dismissed several war crimes charges, citing the cessation of the armed conflict at the time of the alleged offenses. Dressed in casual attire, Kani remained expressionless as the verdict was announced. Sentencing, however, will be determined in a subsequent hearing. The Seleka, a predominantly Muslim rebel group that seized control in 2013, ousted Bozize during the Central African Republic's ongoing civil war. This led to the emergence of opposing Christian militias known as the Anti-Balaka. The ICC had been investigating the violence in the country since 2014, convicting two leaders of the Anti-Balaka, but Kani becomes the first Seleka member to face conviction.",
  "summary": "The ICC has been investigating the violence in the Central African Republic since 2014.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "ICC convicts former Central African Republic militia leader",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/icc-convicts-former-central-african-republic-militia-leader",
        "published": "2026-09-23T12:59:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "ICC convicts Central African Republic rebel leader",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/icc-convicts-central-african-republic-rebel-leader",
        "published": "2026-09-23T13:42:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "ICC convicts ex-C. Africa rebel leader for crimes against humanity",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/icc-convicts-ex-c-africa-rebel-leader-for-crimes-against-humanity",
        "published": "2026-09-23T13:46:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "ICC convicts Central African Republic rebel leader on crimes against humanity charges",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/icc-convicts-central-african-republic-rebel-leader-on-crimes-against",
        "published": "2026-09-23T13:47:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "ICC convicts Central African Republic rebel leader",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/icc-convicts-central-african-republic-rebel-leader-9356470",
        "published": "2026-09-23T15:08:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}