Responding to the opening of the first trial before the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in the Central African Republic (CAR), Abdoulaye Diarra, Amnesty International’s Central Africa researcher, said:

“The opening of the first trial before the SCC is a long-awaited day and a moment of truth for many people in CAR. For too long, victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity have been made to wait for justice and reparations. The court must now ensure that Issa Sallet Adoum, Yaouba Ousman and Mahamat Tahir are tried according to fair trial standards.

“We also call on the CAR authorities and MINUSCA to step up their efforts to arrest other individuals wanted for crimes under international law by the SCC. Today’s hearing must be the first in a series of trials by the court. Alleged war criminals in positions of greater authority must also face justice for the atrocities committed in CAR.”

Source: Amnesty International