APA-Bangui (Central African Republic) – The alleged crimes, including murder, torture, rape and other inhumane acts, are said to have been committed by members of the presidential guard of the former head of state of the Central African Republic.
A UN-backed special court has issued an international arrest warrant for the former president of the Central African Republic, François Bozizé. Ths is in connection with an investigation into his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed by soldiers in a prison between 2009 and 2013.
Mr. Bozizé, 77, who ruled the country from 2003 until he was overthrown by rebels in 2013, has been in exile in Guinea-Bissau since March 2023.
The international arrest warrant was issued on 27 February by the Special Criminal Court (SCC), a hybrid court made up of Central African and foreign judges tasked with investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the CAR since 2003.
The CPC judges issued the arrest warrant as part of an investigation into possible crimes against humanity committed by Mr. Bozizé’s presidential guard between 2009 and 2013 in a civilian prison and a military training centre in Bossembélé, in the centre of the country. They concluded that there was serious and corroborating evidence implicating Mr Bozizé as a superior and military commander in these alleged crimes.
The alleged crimes, including murder, enforced disappearance, torture, rape and other inhumane acts, were allegedly committed by members of Mr Bozizé’s presidential guard and other security services.
The PSC requests the cooperation of Guinea-Bissau, through Interpol, for the arrest and extradition of the suspect to the Central African Republic.
The overthrow of Bozizé by a coalition of rebels in 2013 triggered a serious civil war in the Central African Republic, with large-scale massacres of civilians. Most of the atrocities were committed by the predominantly Muslim Séléka forces and the anti-Balaka militias, which are dominated by Christians and animists.
Since then, various armed groups, including the coalition led by Mr Bozizé, have continued to fight the government and the international forces present in the country. Civilians remain the main victims of this ongoing violence, with all parties involved accused of crimes and abuses, according to the UN and international NGOs.
AC/lb/as/AFP/as/APA