A criminal court in Chad has sentenced Abdoulaye Miskine, the former leader of the Central African Republic (CAR) rebel group known as the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC), to 15 years in prison.
The self-proclaimed "general" Abdoulaye Miskine, who founded the FDPC militia in 2004, was found guilty of insurrection, murder, rape, kidnapping, and usurpation of property, the website Democrata reported on September 9.
Miskine was originally arrested by Chadian authorities near the border in 2019 and held in custody until his trial. While the prosecution requested a 30-year sentence, the court handed down 15 years along with financial compensation orders for the victims' families. Three of his co-defendants received 10-year prison terms.
His lawyer, Mamgo Dibaye, told reporters the defense would appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that Chadian law had not been properly applied and that judges bowed to political pressure despite what he described as insufficient evidence.
Supporters of the accused have long contended that a significant portion of the facts under review date to 2001–2002, when Miskine served as head of the presidential guard under then-President Ange-Félix Patassé, rather than as FDPC leader. They argue that attributing atrocities without reconstructing which armed groups controlled specific areas at the time distorts the historical record.
In November 2002, CAR President Ange-Félix Patassé decorated Miskine with the Commander insignia of the Central African Order of Merit to honor his militia's loyalty. Shortly after, he was flown to Tripoli aboard a private aircraft chartered by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Miskine spent the next 17 years operating in exile and commanding the FDPC rebel group across regional borders.
In late 2019, after rejecting a government post in the Khartoum peace agreement and threatening to overthrow Bangui's administration, he was lured into Chadian territory under the guise of regional mediation talks. Upon arrival, Chadian special intelligence services immediately arrested him near the border.
