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A United Nations-backed court in the Central African Republic has begun the trial in absentia of former president François Bozizé, who faces charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his time in power between 2009 and 2013. The Special Criminal Court (SCC), a hybrid jurisdiction based in the capital Bangui with both Central African and foreign judges, is hearing the case, as reported by Africa News, Al Jazeera, AllAfrica, France 24 and RFI.
Bozizé, 79, who seized power in a 2003 coup and was overthrown by rebels a decade later, has been living in exile in Guinea-Bissau since March 2023, according to multiple reports. He did not appear in court and was represented by his lawyer during the opening session, where civil society representatives and journalists were present, as detailed in one Africa News report.
Three of Bozizé's former senior military officers – Eugene Barret Ngaikosset, Vianney Semndiro and Firmin Junior Danboy – are in pre-trial detention in the Central African Republic and appeared on the defendants' bench dressed in orange overalls. They face trial alongside the former president.
Coverage Comparison
Coverage of the trial's opening was broadly consistent across the outlets, with Africa News (in multiple stories), Al Jazeera, AllAfrica, France 24 and RFI all reporting on the charges, the court's structure, and the identities of the co-defendants. Several reports noted that the SCC issued an international arrest warrant for Bozizé in February 2024 as part of an investigation into crimes committed by his Presidential Guard at a civilian prison and a military training centre in the central town of Bossembélé.
Al Jazeera's reporting emphasized the exile status of Bozizé and the pre-trial detention of the officers, while AllAfrica, France 24 and RFI provided nearly identical factual summaries. One Africa News piece described the proceedings as a "major test" for the SCC, created to investigate war crimes and atrocities committed during years of conflict in the Central African Republic – an assessment that was not repeated verbatim by the other outlets in the provided material.
A separate Africa News report focused on the defence's objections, quoting lawyers who denounced "procedural irregularities" in the conduct of the trial. This report noted that the defence has asked for the trial to be delayed until what it says are required notifications to the ministers of justice and foreign affairs are fulfilled. The judges, according to the same report, maintain that Bozizé is subject to a public arrest warrant and has chosen not to appear despite being informed of the charges.
Key Claims
The SCC alleges that members of Bozizé's security forces committed murder, torture, rape and enforced disappearances between 2009 and 2013, according to Africa News, Al Jazeera, AllAfrica, France 24 and RFI. Bozizé is accused of bearing responsibility as commander-in-chief and military leader, a claim reported by multiple outlets. The judges concluded, as quoted in several reports, that there was "serious and consistent evidence against Bozizé, likely to incur his criminal liability, in his capacity as hierarchical superior and military leader."
The trial stems from an investigation into crimes allegedly committed by Bozizé's Presidential Guard, which led to the international arrest warrant issued in February 2024. The SCC's mandate covers war crimes committed since 2003 in the Central African Republic, a country that has endured successive civil wars and authoritarian rulers since independence from France in 1960, as noted by Africa News and RFI.
Bozizé's 2013 overthrow by a coalition of mostly Muslim rebels, known as the Seleka, triggered a civil war, according to multiple reports. Bozizé set up militias dominated by Christians and animists, called anti-Balaka, in an attempt to regain power. Thousands of civilians were killed during the conflict, and both sides faced accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, as reported by Africa News and Al Jazeera.
The former president has also faced separate legal proceedings: he was sentenced in absentia to forced labour for life in September 2022 on charges of conspiracy, rebellion and murder, as reported by one Africa News article.
Perspectives
The trial has drawn a clear division between the court and the defence, as reported by Africa News. The defence team, representing Bozizé, argues that the conditions for a trial in absentia have not been met. They say that the ministers of justice and foreign affairs were not informed of the proceedings, despite a legal requirement to do so, and they have requested a delay until that formality is fulfilled.
The judges, according to the same report, contend that Bozizé is the subject of a public arrest warrant and has chosen not to appear despite being informed of the charges, which they say is sufficient to begin proceedings. This exchange illustrates the procedural dispute at the heart of the trial's opening phase.