ICC prosecutor frees ex-Central African militia leader after dropping charges

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor announced on Thursday (19 October) that it had released Maxime Mokom because all war crimes charges levied against the former militia leader were dropped.
Prosecutor Karim Khan said his office had concluded there were “no longer any reasonable prospects of conviction at trial even if the charges were confirmed.” Mokom was released from custody on Tuesday, the ICC said later in a statement. He had faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged atrocities committed against Muslim civilians in the CAR, a former French colony, by his self-proclaimed self-defense militias in 2013 and 2014. One of the poorest countries in the world, the CAR was plunged into bloody sectarian conflict after Seleka rebels, a coalition of armed groups mainly composed of Muslims, ousted president Francois Bozize in early 2013.
Mokom’s militias, known as “anti-Balaka” (meaning “anti-machete”) formed in reaction to the takeover of the capital, Bangui, by the Seleka. He had denied involvement in the bloodshed, telling ICC judges in August he was “dedicated to the search for peace”. Prosecutor Khan said his office reserved the right to request a new arrest warrant if more evidence came to light and addressed those affected by the atrocities in the country. “I am very conscious that this news may be unwelcome to many survivors and their families,” he said. “I hope many will understand my legal and ethical responsibilities to be guided by the law and the evidence.”