Centraal-afrikaanse republiek
The Special Criminal Court (SCC) of the Central African Republic (CAR) is at serious risk of closure in 2026 due to a significant lack of funding. This development threatens to deprive thousands of victims and survivors of war crimes and crimes against humanity of justice and reparations.
Established to investigate and prosecute crimes under international law committed during conflicts in CAR, the SCC relies solely on voluntary contributions from states and international organizations. Over the past year, the court has faced massive budget cuts, leading to a reduction of 25% in its staff. Without additional funding, the SCC is projected to run out of money by June 2026.
The SCC currently has 15 ongoing investigations and three trials. The potential closure of the court would represent a catastrophic setback in the fight against impunity in CAR. Victims and survivors, who have endured atrocities such as murder, rape, and displacement, would be left without a path to justice.
Amnesty International has called on states to make urgent financial contributions to the SCC to ensure its crucial operations can continue. Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, emphasized the importance of the court's work and the dire consequences of its potential closure.
The SCC was inaugurated on October 22, 2018, as a hybrid court supported by the United Nations, composed of both Central African and foreign prosecutors and judges. It began its second five-year term on October 22, 2023, which is due to end in October 2028. The court has been instrumental in addressing serious crimes committed since 2003, including the issuance of an arrest warrant for former President François Bozizéin 2024.
