ICC delivery of judgment in the Said Case (Situation in Central African Republic II)

Trial Chamber VI of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) scheduled the delivery of its judgment on conviction or acquittal in the case of The Prosecutor v. Mahamat Said Abdel Kani for 23 September 2026 at 11:00 (The Hague local time).

As a former alleged Seleka commander, Mr Said is accused of crimes against humanity (imprisonment or other severe deprivation of liberty; torture; persecution and other inhumane acts) and war crimes (torture; cruel treatment and outrages upon personal dignity) allegedly committed at the Office Central de Répression du Banditisme (‘OCRB’) in Bangui (Central African Republic) in 2013.

The judgment will be read out in public in ICC Courtroom I and the hearing will be transmitted live through the ICC website. Practical information, in particular on how to attend or watch the delivery, will be provided closer to the date of the hearing.

Pursuant to article 74 of the Rome Statute, the judges will either acquit or convict the accused. The accused before the ICC is presumed innocent. While the Prosecution must prove the guilt of the accused, the Trial Chamber will convict the accused only if it is satisfied that the charges have been proven beyond reasonable doubt. The Chamber bases its decision only on the applicable law and on evidence submitted and discussed before it at the trial. In response to the verdict, the parties will be able to appeal the decision before the ICC’s Appeals Chamber.