Central African Republic alleged war criminal Patrice Edouard Ngaissona has been elected new CAF Executive Committee Member for Central Zone.

Ngaissona alongside three others were elected to the powerful body during today’s CAF’s 40th General Assembly in Casablanca, Morocco.

He garnered 30 votes against Gabon’s Pierre Alain Mounguengui’s 23 with one abstention.

He succeeds CAF’s second vice president and FIFA Council Member Constant Suleman Omari of DRC.

Ngaissona’s candidature drew sharp criticism from a section of human rights groups in Bangui, who accuses him of war crimes in the war ravaged country.

The former Minister of Sports under exiled President Francois Bozize is believed to have been the coordinator for the anti-Balaka armed movement that murdered thousands and displaced millions mostly Muslims during CAR civil war in 2013.

Inside sources at CAF indicate that Ngaissona’s candidature received the blessings of the organization’s leadership. He will serve for one and a half years.

Three more members were elected to the CAF’s top decision making body.

They include Jamal El Jaafri (Libya) for North Zone, Augustin Senghor (Senegal) for Zone West A and Sita Sangore (Burkina Faso) for Zone West B.

Sita becomes the first Burkinabe to be elected as CAF ExCo member.