June 8 - 14, 2015

1. Special Criminal Court for CAR officially created

Privately-owned media

“Catherine Samba Panza decrete la loi sur la Cour Penale Speciale.” Radio Ndeke Luka, 8 June 2015. In French.

•  On 3 June Catherine Samba Panza officially passed the law creating the Special Criminal Court, and the document was read aloud on nation radio on 4 June.
• The court will be able to investigate and prosecute violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in Central African Republic since 1 January 2003, including crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
• The court’s president will be chosen during the inaugural session from among the national body of judges.
• The court’s mandate will run for five years, and can be renewed if needed.

International media

“Central African Republic: Special Criminal Court officially created.” International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), 10 June 2015. In English.

• On 3 June 2015 CAR’s transitional president Catherine Samba Panza officially promulgated a law on the creation, organization and functioning of the Special Criminal Court for CAR.
• FIDH hails this as a confirmation of the transitional authorities’ determination to “launch a real struggle against impunity and for a truth, justice and reconciliation process.”
• This court is the result of several years of negotiation and efforts to establish an international tribunal, starting with the creation of a Special Investigation Unit in April 2014.

2. United Nations: funding for elections is urgently needed

International media

“US$ 21 Million Urgently Needed for Central African Republic Elections.” UNDP, via AllAfrica, 8 June 2015. In English.

• UN representatives said at a meeting hosted by the UN Peacebuilding Commission that an extra $21.2 million is needed to finance crucial operations for the upcoming elections in CAR.
• Preparations for the elections are already underway, and several key milestones, including the establishment of field offices by the National Elections Authority, have been met.
• However, representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that there is still a risk of a return to conflict if elections are not transparent and inclusive. “We’ve brought the country to the beginning of the end of the tunnel. If we don’t heed its call, we risk falling to an even lower point,” said Aurelian Agbenonci, the UNDP Resident Representative in CAR.

3. Man killed in "popular justice" in Mboki

Privately-owned media

 "Un cas de justice populaire à Mboki dans le sud-est de la RCA." Radio Ndeke Luka, 10 June    2015. In French.

• A 30-year old man in Mboki, in southeastern CAR, died after being beaten and tortured for allegedly stealing a solar panel from a local leader.
• The man was a convert to Islam, but the Islamic community in Mboki reportedly refused to organize his funeral, leading to high tension in the region.
• Civil society organizations condemned the killing, calling it "shameful" and not a substitute for true justice through the court system.