An international arrest warrant has been issued by a court in the Central African Republic for the country's exiled former President François Bozizé. The warrant, issued by the Special Criminal Court in Bangui, is for human rights abuses committed during Bozizé's leadership from 2009 to 2013.
The crimes in question took place at a civilian prison and a military training center in Bossembélém, where numerous individuals were reportedly tortured and killed by the presidential guard and other security forces.
Bozizé, who currently resides in Guinea-Bissau, has not yet faced extradition due to the laws of the country not allowing for such requests. The court's spokesperson emphasized that justice may be slow but will eventually catch up with the perpetrators of these crimes.
The Special Criminal Court was established in 2015 to address war crimes and human rights abuses stemming from the coups and violence that have plagued the Central African Republic since 2003. The court's creation has been hailed as a significant step towards advancing justice for victims of serious crimes.
Experts in international criminal law have noted that the arrest warrant for Bozizé signifies the court's commitment to holding state actors accountable for wrongdoing. Bozizé came to power in a coup in 2003 and was later ousted by Seleka rebels in a conflict that led to a civil war marked by sectarian violence and the use of child soldiers.
The United States and the United Nations have imposed sanctions on Bozizé for his role in fueling the violence. The conflict in the Central African Republic has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of over a million people, with ongoing fighting despite a peace deal reached in 2019.
Victims of the atrocities committed during the conflict have expressed relief at the issuance of the arrest warrant for Bozizé and have called for cooperation from Guinea-Bissau in facilitating his extradition to face justice.
