Central African Republic (I and II)

ICC investigation into 2002-03 violence

In May 2007, the ICC Prosecutor opened an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the country since 1 July 2002, with a particular focus on violence from 2002-03. In 2016, the single main case from the CAR I situation—against former rebel commander and later Congolese Vice-President Jean Pierre Bemba. In 2016, Trial Chamber III of the ICC convicted Bemba to 18-years prison sentence for charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. However, in 2018, the Appeals Chamber of the Court reversed the conviction because it found two serious errors that affected the decision of Trial Chamber II. First, the judges of the Appeals Chamber ruled that the Trial Chamber had erroneously convicted Mr. Bemba for specific criminal acts that were outside the scope of the confirmed charges. Second, the judges of the Appeal Chamber found that the Trial Chamber erred in its assessment on whether Mr. Bemba took all necessary and reasonable measures to prevent, repress or punish the commission of the other crimes allegedly committed by his subordinates. The judgment, in this case, was final but Jean Pierre Bemba remains in detention on account of another case. He is alleged of witness-tampering and along with four associates he faces charges for offenses against the administration of justice.

The CAR's transitional government made the second ICC referral in May 2014, amid allegations of sectarian violence between the Muslim Séléka and Christian anti-Balaka groups, which have been battling for control of the country since a failed 2012 coup attempt. In September 2014, following a brief preliminary examination, the ICC prosecutor opened an investigation into alleged grave crimes committed in the CAR since 1 August 2012.