Central African court risks closure by 2028
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Amnesty
The Central African Republic’s Special Criminal Court risks closing by 2028 for lack of funding, despite thousands of victims still awaiting justice. Since opening in 2018, it has tried six cases and convicted 19 people of war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to Amnesty International.
The Central African Republic’s Special Criminal Court (SCC) risks closing by 2028 if it does not receive the funding needed to continue its investigations and trials, Amnesty International warns. In a report published on 27 October, the organisation calls on the Central African authorities, the UN, the European Union and partner states to fund the court.
Since its inauguration on 22 October 2018, the SCC has tried six cases and convicted 19 people of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Victims of violence committed notably during the 2003 coup and the 2012–2014 armed conflict are still waiting for senior figures to be prosecuted, according to Amnesty.
The court relies on voluntary contributions from states and international organisations. Amnesty says the UN and the European Union are currently the only state or institutional financial supporters, while the International Criminal Court has closed its investigations and national courts lack the resources and independence to take over the cases.
The SCC recently began to digitise its archives. The warning comes after new charges were announced on 20 October in the Bossembélé trial, another case before the court.
