Francois Bozize, the former president of the Central African Republic who was exiled and now leads a rebel coalition, has been sentenced to forced labor for life for conspiracy, rebellion, and murder in the chronically unstable nation.
Bozize, who took power in the CAR in 2003 but was ousted a decade later, was sentenced in absentia on Thursday, along with two of his sons and 20 other co-accused, including rebel leaders.
The charges included compromising internal security and “murders,” according to the judgment by an appeals court in the capital, Bangui.
The judgment did not provide details on the time period concerned or the specific crimes.
Bozize, 76, leads an alliance of rebel groups called the Coalition of Patriots for Change, formed in December 2020 in an attempt to overthrow his successor, Faustin Archange Touadera.
Bozize’s rule in the CAR was marked by conflict, and he set up armed militias, mainly Christian, known as the anti-Balakas, in an attempt to regain power.
The CAR has been plagued by civil war since 2013 when Muslim-dominated armed groups ousted Bozize.
While the conflict lessened in intensity after 2018, the country still experiences bouts of violence and remains deeply impoverished.
Bozize initially fled to Uganda and defied United Nations sanctions for his presumed role in the CAR crisis.
He returned to the CAR in 2020 to contest presidential elections and later became a rebel leader. After a period in Chad, Bozize moved to Guinea-Bissau in March 2023.
The CAR conflict has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths, with both sides accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the United Nations.
