ICC to Hear Reparations Arguments in Yekatom and Ngaïssona Case on October 1

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court will hold a public hearing on October 1 to consider reparations for victims in the case against Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona. The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. local time in The Hague. The court does not expect to issue a reparations order that day. International Criminal Court

Judges will hear submissions from victims’ legal representatives, both defense teams, prosecutors, the court’s Registry, the Trust Fund for Victims, the organization ARC-EN-CIEL, and authorities from the Central African Republic. The hearing allows those participants to address reparations before the chamber decides a later date. International Criminal Court

In July 2025, ICC judges found Yekatom and Ngaïssona guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Bangui and western areas of the Central African Republic between September 2013 and at least February 2014. Yekatom was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and Ngaïssona to 12 years. Both defense teams and the prosecution filed notices of appeal; the appeals remain pending. International Criminal Court

At the ICC, reparations may address harm suffered by victims of crimes for which a person was convicted. Judges can order individual or collective reparations and may direct that they be delivered through the Trust Fund for Victims. The October 1 hearing concerns what reparations may be appropriate in this case; it is not an announcement that payments have been approved. International Criminal Court

How to follow the hearing: The ICC says a webcast will be available with a 30-minute delay in English, French, and Sango on its website. The court also plans Sango coverage on its Facebook account and French and Sango coverage on its YouTube channel. Journalists seeking to attend in person must request accreditation at PublicAffairs.Unit@icc-cpi.int before September 29. Members of the public can request attendance at ICCVisits@icc-cpi.int by the same deadline. International Criminal Court