Central African Republic – 24 June 2016

Bemba Gets 18 Years for Central African Republic War Crimes

Jean-Pierre Bemba is the first person to be convicted by the ICC of crimes of sexual violence in war.

Congolese politician Jean-Pierre Bemba was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the International Criminal Court on Tuesday for heading a 2002-03 campaign of rape and murder in neighbouring Central African Republic.

The former Democratic Republic of Congo vice-president in March became the first person to be convicted by the global war crimes court of crimes of sexual violence in war, as well as the first to be held directly responsible for his subordinates’ crimes.

EWN


 

16 killed in fresh unrest in Central African Republic

Sixteen people have been killed in two days of clashes between Fulani herdsmen and the mainly Muslim Seleka militia in the Central African Republic, police said on Tuesday.

The chronically unstable nation is struggling to overcome the legacy of three years of deadly conflict between Christians and Muslims that has driven half a million people from their homes.

“According to an initial toll, 16 people, most of them armed Fulani herdsmen, were killed and more than 20 others were wounded in the clashes,” a police officer in the northern town of Kaga Bandoro told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Yahoo!