Prosecutors say that Patrice Edouard and Gasana, Ah, former top African soccer executive, was a senior leader and national coordinator of the so called anti Balaka militias in 2013 and 2014.

The 53 year old has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution and torture.

Co accused Alfred Yucatan, a former militia commander, faces similar charges with additional counts for his alleged use of child soldiers.

Both men have said they're innocent.

The Central African Republic has been mired in violence since a coalition of mostly northern and predominantly Muslim rebels known as SELEKA seized power in March 2013.

There.

Brutal rule gave rise to the opposing anti Balaka Christian militias after initial criticism that its investigation into the C.

A.

R was one sided with only anti Balaka leaders in the dock.

The I C C in January announced it had detained the alleged SELEKA leader too.

En gay sauna was detained in 2018 while in France on official business, his lawyer told judges at the time.

Ah French court approved his extradition on December 31.

He was controversially elected in as top executive of the Confederation of African Football in 2018, but it's no longer listed as a member on the C A F website.