A UN-backed Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic is set to begin the trial, in absentia, of former president François Bozizé for alleged crimes against humanity. Reporting from multiple outlets says the proceedings start on Tuesday and involve foreign judges. Bozizé, 79, is not present because he is living in exile in Guinea-Bissau, where he has been since March 2023.
The charges relate to crimes allegedly committed between 2009 and 2013. Bozizé came to power in the Central African Republic through a coup in 2003 and was later overthrown about a decade afterwards by rebels. The trial is therefore focused on events attributed to his period in office and is being pursued through the court’s mandate with international participation.
Both sources describe the same core elements: the start date, the in-absentia nature of the case, the UN-backed court structure with foreign judges, Bozizé’s current location in Guinea-Bissau, and the alleged timeframe for the crimes.
