reactions in Bangui after the arrest of Maxime Mokom

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Victims’ associations and authorities welcome the transfer to the ICC of former anti-balaka leader Maxime Mokom. Former minister and anti-balaka leader Maxime Mokom has been behind bars in The Hague since Monday. Mokom is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war in 2013 and 2014. In Bangui, victims’ associations and the authorities welcome the transfer to the ICC of Maxime Mokom. “This goes in the direction of the fight against impunity”, rejoices the spokesperson for the presidency, Minister Albert Yaloke Mokpeme. He adds that Mokom “did not respect the instructions” when crossing the Central African border. He was arrested at the border between Chad and the Central African Republic, the Chadian authorities handed him over to the ICC on Monday March 14. After the failure of the coup launched by the rebel coalition CPC in January 2021, the former minister had found refuge with other leaders of armed groups in Ndjamena, pending progress in the peace negotiations conducted by Angola. The news, however, casts a chill among the other leaders of the armed groups, still in exile in Chad, at the request of Angola and awaiting progress in the peace negotiations conducted under the aegis of the ICGLR. . “It’s an obstacle to the peace process, we can’t dialogue under these conditions,” indignantly spokesman for the rebel coalition. “Neither the Luanda roadmap nor the peace agreement can hinder justice,” replies Minister Mokpeme. Bangui has always taken a dim view of this exile deemed too close to its borders. Ndjamena seized the opportunity to get rid of a cumbersome guest who had bad relations with the Chadian secret services. “But aren’t the other rebel leaders likely to take fright? What will then be the consequences in the Central African Republic? asks a diplomat. The reconciliation dialogue with the unarmed opposition and civil society will be held from March 21 to 27, according to the presidential decree published on Tuesday evening March 15.