Who is Noureddine Adam, the Central African wanted by the ICC?

Former Seleka leader Noureddine Adam is wanted by the International Criminal Court, which accuses him of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He is now one of the most wanted people in the world: Noureddine Adam is the target of an arrest warrant just published by the International Criminal Court (ICC), this Thursday, July 28.

#ICC judges issue public redacted version of arrest warrant for Mahamat Nouradine Adam, suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the #CentralAfricanRepublic. Learn more ⤵️ https://t.co/raV24nJViD

- Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) July 28th, 2022

But in fact, it has now been more than three and a half years that the Central African is wanted by the international jurisdiction. On January 7, 2019, the ICC had indeed secretly issued a first arrest warrant. She hoped to have more chances of arresting Noureddine Adam by keeping this warrant under seal.

What is the former number 2 of the Seleka accused of? The International Criminal Court charges him with crimes against humanity and war crimes. Acts that would have been committed in 2013, between the months of April and November. The Central African is also in the crosshairs of Interpol, where he is on file, and the United Nations (UN), which has banned him from traveling since 2014.

The publication of the ICC's arrest warrant allows us to know a little more about the accusations against Adam: acts of torture, acts of persecution, cruel treatment... When the Seleka succeeded in ousting the Central African President François Bozizé and to take Bangui in March 2013, to give power to Michel Djotodia, Noureddine Adam would have acted like a real war criminal, according to the ICC.

Abductions and torture

The international court accuses Adam, when he became Minister of State in charge of Public Security and head of the political police of the new regime - the State Cell for the Defense of Democratic Achievements (CEDAD) - of having had several of Bozizé's supporters detained by force, having kidnapped and tortured them. Other people would also have, still according to the ICC, been victims of CEDAD because of their ethnicity or their religion.

One of Noureddine Adam's lieutenants, Mahamat Saïd, is already languishing in an ICC jail. And while the trial of the henchman of the ex-number 2 of the Seleka will open in September, the Court would see Adam captured.

After the acts of which he is accused, Noureddine Adam had taken refuge in the north of the country. He had joined the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), attempting to overthrow President Faustin-Archange Touadéra nearly two years ago.

It remains to be seen whether Sudan, Adam's host country, will cooperate with the ICC. Before 2019, the Sudan of President Omar al-Bashir, then wanted by the Court, refused to discuss with the ICC. However, since August 2021, talks between Khartoum and the new President of the Court have been initiated. The ICC is therefore hopeful that Sudan will one day deliver Noureddine Adam to it. But the latter says however to travel between Sudan and the Central African Republic where, according to his words, he would always lead armed troops…