UN-backed court issues arrest warrant for ex-president of Central African Republic

A UN-backed court said on Tuesday it has issued an arrest warrant for former Central African Republic President Francois Bozize over crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the military during his time in office.

The alleged crimes include murder, enforced disappearance, torture, rape and other inhumane acts committed between 2009 and 2013, said a statement from the Special Criminal Court (CPS), based in the capital Bangui.

The crimes were allegedly committed by Bozize’s presidential guard and other forces in a civilian prison and at the military training center in the town of Bossembele.

The judges said that “the existence of serious and consistent evidence” against Bozize is likely to be held criminally liable in his capacity as hierarchical superior and military leader.

The international order was issued on February 27, but was made public on Tuesday, according to the CPS.

Bozize, 77, ruled the Central African Republic from March 2003 to March 2013, when he was ousted. He also seized power in a coup and has been living in exile in Guinea-Bissau since March 2023.

The court called on Guinea-Bissau’s cooperation to ‘arrest’ and ‘hand over’ the suspect.

The Court of Appeal of the Central African Republic sentenced Bozize to life in hard labor last September for “undermining the internal security of the state” and “murder.”

Bozize now serves as coordinator of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), the main rebel coalition formed in 2020 to overthrow his successor, Faustin Archange Touadera.

The court, established in 2015 with UN support, is tasked with investigating war crimes committed since 2003 in the country, which gained independence from France in 1960.