ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Edmond Beina

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has unsealed an arrest warrant for Edmond Beina, an alleged militia leader from the Central African Republic (CAR), accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Muslim civilians in 2014. The warrant, originally issued in 2018, charges Beina with numerous atrocities including murder, attempted murder, rape, and extermination during violent attacks in the village of Guen, where at least 22 Muslims were killed. Beina commanded a group of 100 to 400 anti-Balaka fighters amidst the sectarian violence that erupted after Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in 2013. The ICC has been investigating the violence in CAR since May 2014 and is currently holding trials for other leaders from both the anti-Balaka and Seleka factions. This development occurs against a backdrop of ongoing violence and instability in the region, which continues to displace civilians and exacerbate humanitarian crises.