Central African Republic: Special Criminal Court, the Last Hope of Justice for Thousands, On the Brink of Collapse - New Report

What the report says

Amnesty International says the Central African Republic’s Special Criminal Court, a hybrid court based in Bangui, is facing a serious funding crisis that could force it toward closure by 2028. The report, published on 27 October 2026 and carried by AllAfrica, warns that suspected perpetrators of grave abuses, including some senior figures, could avoid accountability if the court cannot keep investigating and prosecuting cases.

The court was created to handle atrocities linked to periods of conflict in the country, including violence around the 2003 coup and the 2012-2014 armed conflict. According to the report, the SCC has tried six cases since opening in 2018 and has secured 19 convictions for war crimes and crimes against humanity. One case has also resulted in reparations for victims. Other proceedings remain under way, including a trial connected to attacks in Guen and another involving former president François Bozizé.

Amnesty says the court relies on voluntary donations and has suffered a sharp financial setback after the United States ended support in 2025. The organization says the UN and the EU are now the only current funders, while unpaid pledges and staffing cuts have limited the court’s work, including witness protection and new investigations. The report also notes that national courts in the CAR lack the resources and independence to absorb these cases, and that the International Criminal Court closed its own investigations in 2022. The warning comes as violence and serious human rights violations continue in parts of the country.