Central African Republic - June 2026

On 16 June, the Special Criminal Court (SCC), opened the trial in absentia of former president François Bozizé on charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed between 2009 and 2013. The charges relate to alleged abuses by members of Bozizé’s Presidential Guard and other security forces, including murder, torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and rape. The SCC issued an international arrest warrant against Bozizé in February 2024 after finding what it described as serious evidence of his potential criminal responsibility. Bozizé, who has lived in exile in Guinea-Bissau since 2023, was represented by legal counsel. The trial is one of the highest-profile cases brought before the SCC since its establishment. However, rights organizations, including Amnesty International, expressed concern that conducting the proceedings in absentia undermines the pursuit of full accountability and called for Bozizé’s arrest and extradition.  

Sources: Amnesty International; Al Jazeera; AP News; Africa News