What Happened?

  • A court in the Central African Republic (CAR), supported by the United Nations, has issued an arrest warrant for former President François Bozizé on charges of human rights abuses. (Fox News, Le Monde, The Independent, DW, The Guardian)

  • The warrant was issued by the Special Criminal Court in the CAR, a hybrid court composed of national and international judges and prosecutors. (Le Monde, DW, The Guardian)

  • Bozizé is accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during his presidency from 2003 to 2013. (Le Monde, DW, The Guardian)

  • The specific allegations against Bozizé include extrajudicial killings, torture, forced displacement of civilians, and the recruitment of child soldiers. (Fox News, DW, The Guardian)

  • The arrest warrant was welcomed by human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch, which have long called for accountability for the atrocities committed during Bozizé’s rule. (Fox News, The Guardian)

  • Bozizé, who was ousted from power in a 2013 coup, has been living in exile in neighboring countries. The court’s decision means he could be arrested if he attempts to return to the CAR. (Le Monde, The Independent)

  • The CAR has been plagued by political instability and violence for years, with various armed groups vying for control of the country’s resources and territory. (The Independent, DW)

  • The issuance of the arrest warrant is seen as a significant step towards addressing the country’s long history of impunity for human rights abuses. (Le Monde, DW, The Guardian)

Sources: