ICC Appeals Chamber confirms decision on inadmissibility of the case against Edmond Beina

Today, 11 March 2026, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed Pre Trial Chamber II's Decision on the Central African Republic's challenge to the admissibility of the case against Edmond Beina.

On 12 September 2025, Pre-Trial Chamber II determined that the case against Mr Beina before the ICC is inadmissible under article 17(1)(a) of the Rome Statute. The Pre-Trial Chamber assessed information before it concerning the ongoing case against Mr Beina before the "Cour pénale spéciale" in the Central African Republic, and found that the Central African Republic was willing and able to genuinely investigate and prosecute the case against Mr Beina.

The Defence for Mr Beina appealed this decision, raising five grounds of appeal.

Today, in a public judgment read in open court, the Appeals Chamber rejected the five grounds of appeal of the Appellant and found that the Appellant has not demonstrated any error in the approach or findings of the Pre-Trial Chamber. Accordingly, the Appeals Chamber confirmed the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber II.

Judgment on the appeal of Mr Edmond Beina against the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber II entitled "Decision on the Central African Republic's challenge to the admissibility of the case against Edmond Beina"

Background: On 7 December 2018, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II issued a warrant of arrest against Mr Beina for crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in Guen between at least 1 February to early April 2014. On 3 May 2022, the "Cour pénale spéciale" in the Central African Republic issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Beina.

In June 2024, Mr Beina was arrested in the Central African Republic, and in October 2024, the Central African Republic challenged the admissibility of Mr Beina's case before the ICC.

The Appeals Chamber in this appeal is composed of Presiding Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze, Judge Tomoko Akane, Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin.

Audio-visual materials

YouTube (for viewing): English; French; Sango
Video (MPEG-4) for download: English; French; Sango
Audio (MPEG-3) for download: English; French; Sango

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