Amnesty warns CAR Special Court at risk of closure

Central African Republic Special Criminal Court in session. credit: Facebook

Amnesty International warns CAR Special Court at risk of closure

JuristNews

February12, 2026

By Cecilia Akoko Attiogbe Atayi

Amnesty International has warned that the Special Criminal Court (SCC) of the Central African Republic (CAR), a hybrid tribunal established to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity, is facing a “serious risk of closure” because of severe funding shortages.

Amnesty International’s regional director for West and Central Africa, Marceau Sivieude, stated,“Victim survivors of crimes under international law have a right to truth, justice, and reparations. We call on all partner states of the Central African Republic to urgently commit financial and human resources to the SCC so that justice can be served for these victims and survivors. Without this, impunity will prevail.”

This funding crisis raises concerns about justice, accountability, and the future of the rule of law in the CAR, a country scarred by decades of conflict. The special court was created as a tribunal staffed by both national and international judges. It is designed to address atrocities that domestic courts lack jurisdiction to prosecute.

The court has launched investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during CAR’s civil war since 2013. The SCC opened its first trial in 2022.  36 people have been indicted as of August 2025.

The court’s work has been hailed as an opportunity to end the widespread impunity that victims of violence in CAR have faced. The court may also be a model for other countries that pursue justice for international crimes in their national systems.

The court is largely funded by voluntary international donors. In 2019, Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concerns over a funding gap of nearly US$1million that hinders the court’s full operation.

Experts like Tetevi Davi argue that the entirely voluntary nature of the contributions has meant that the Court has struggled to secure a consistent and adequate stream of funding for its operations.

The Special Criminal Court embodies the principles of the rule of law, which requires that laws are applied equally, that judicial institutions function independently, and that victims have access to remedies.

Its closure would undermine CAR’s fragile justice system, erode public trust in CAR’s government institutions, and signal to perpetrators that crimes can be committed with impunity.

Amnesty’s warning reflects the recognition that CAR’s national budget alone cannot sustain the court. The possible closure of the Special Criminal Court in CAR is more than a financial issue, as it threatens the rule of law and the rights of victims in the CAR and in Africa more generally. Without sustained support, CAR risks sliding back into impunity, undermining peace and reconciliation efforts.

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