Rebels control two-thirds of the country, which is still reeling from a civil war.

Monday’s ruling is a historic conviction by the Special Criminal Court that was established in Bangui four years ago to prosecute war crimes committed in the CAR since 2003.

Issa Sallet Adoum and Ousman Yaouba were jailed for 20 years each, while Tahir Mahamat received a life sentence for killing dozens of civilians in north-western CAR in 2019.

The three convicted were members of the 3R rebel group that was formed in 2015 during the sectarian conflict in the CAR.

Their conviction, however, is a long way from deterring deadly violence by dozens of militia groups active in the country.

Despite being pushed back by the army – backed by Russian mercenaries – vast parts of the mineral-rich country remain under rebel control.

Several other militia leaders are facing war crimes cases at the Hague-based International Criminal Court over the CAR’s civil war.

A 2019 peace deal between the CAR government and key rebel groups unravelled when the latter mounted an insurrection to remove President Faustin Touadéra from power.