Trial begins for former Central African Republic leader Bozizé over war crimes

Article excerpt

A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic opened trial proceedings Tuesday against former president François Bozizé, 79, who has lived in exile in Guinea-Bissau since March 2023. The Special Criminal Court, staffed with foreign judges, is trying Bozizé in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity. Bozizé seized power in a 2003 coup and ruled for a decade before rebels overthrew him in 2013. The trial represents a rare attempt by the war-torn nation to hold its leaders accountable for atrocities committed during his tenure.