Central African Republic: the CPS opens its first trial, 7 years after its creation

The magistrate of the Special Criminal Court (CPS) Michel Landry Louanga, during the inaugural session, October 22, 2018. Gaël Grilhot / RFI

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The big day of the SPC in the Central African Republic.

Seven years after its creation, the Special Criminal Court will judge its first cases from this Tuesday.

This hybrid jurisdiction, made up of local and international judges, has the mandate to investigate and prosecute serious human rights violations committed in the country since 2003. The first defendants are former 3R group militiamen accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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Issa Sallet Adoum, Tahir Mahamat and Ousman Yaouba are being prosecuted for their alleged role in atrocities committed in two villages in the province of Paoua, in the north-west of the country.

In May 2019, they allegedly participated in the massacre of 46 civilians committed by the 3R militia, "Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation", according to the NGO Human Rights Watch, which documented these abuses.

The three men were handed over to the SPC by their leader, Sidiki Abbas, at the time a signatory of the Khartoum peace accord, who died in November 2020 in clashes when he joined the anti-Touadera armed coalition , and was himself targeted by the CPS.

In December 2021, during its first public hearing, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Court rejected the appeals of the three defendants and sent the case to trial.

Human rights organizations welcome this important step in the fight against impunity in the Central African Republic, and see it as a test to judge the solidity of the Court.

However, they regret the lack of cooperation from the authorities.

Among the twenty detainees in the context of procedures launched by the CPS, none is a major actor. 

Crisis of confidence

This first trial represents the culmination of a long and laborious process for this unique jurisdiction, recalls

, 

.

It took 7 long years for the CPS to open its first trial.

In his defense, this hybrid jurisdiction is the only one in the world to try crimes committed during a conflict that is still ongoing.

But it has suffered from a deep crisis of confidence since the arrest 5 months ago of the Minister of Livestock,

crimes and crimes against humanity.

Placed under a warrant of committal, he had been exfiltrated from prison by the authorities then reinstated in his functions and decorated with the national order of merit.

The CPS is also criticized for its lack of transparency concerning the cases it has taken on, the use of its annual budget of 12 million euros financed by Western donors or even its pre-trial detention.

Several detainees were released because the regulatory deadlines had been exceeded.

She is also questioned about her independence, due to numerous unimplemented arrest warrants.  

This first trial is therefore a decisive step, an opportunity to regain credibility.

And which will undoubtedly determine the failure or the success of this unprecedented experience.

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• Central African Republic