By John Ikani
Central African Republic’s (CAR) Special Criminal Court, set up to probe war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 2003, opens its first trial on Tuesday, seven years after it was created.
The hybrid court – staffed by both international and Central African judges and prosecutors – will today, hear its first trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in May 2019.
The defendants in Tuesday’s trial are members of 3R – one of the most powerful armed groups in the country.
They are accused of massacring dozens of people in the north-west of the country.
While the court has been praised by some as a model of justice which could be exported to other countries facing civil war, it has been criticised for the delay in opening its first trial.
Others doubt its effectiveness.
The president of the ICC, Piotr Hofmanski, had earlier tweeted his solidarity and support for the Special Criminal Court.
He wrote:
“#ICC President Piotr Hofmański, on behalf of ICC judges, expresses solidarity and support for judges at the Special Criminal Court in #Bangui #CentralAfricanRepublic, ahead of their first trial scheduled to open on Tuesday, 19 April. #JusticeMatters”
#ICC President Piotr Hofmański, on behalf of ICC judges, expresses solidarity and support for judges at the Special Criminal Court in #Bangui #CentralAfricanRepublic, ahead of their first trial scheduled to open on Tuesday, 19 April. #JusticeMatters pic.twitter.com/kz7iAIEudx
— Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) April 16, 2022
