A landmark trial is opening in the Central African Republic as former president Francois Bozize faces charges of crimes against humanity before the country’s Special Criminal Court

Bozize will be tried in absentia The former leader is accused of bearing command responsibility for a campaign of violence allegedly carried out by his presidential guard and security forces between 2009 and 2013 Prosecutors say units under his authority committed murder torture rape and enforced disappearances targeting perceived political opponents and communities seen as sympathetic to rebel groups

The Special Criminal Court a hybrid tribunal composed of national and international judges was established with United Nations support to address the gravest crimes committed during years of conflict in the Central African Republic Human rights organizations describe the Bozize case as its most politically sensitive and legally complex proceeding to date

Bozize now in exile in Guinea Bissau has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has not appeared before the court Authorities say three former senior military officers who served under him are already in custody and will stand trial alongside him They are alleged to have overseen operations in which civilians were arbitrarily arrested tortured or summarily executed

Analysts say the trial will test whether the country’s fragile justice system can confront abuses attributed to those who once held the highest offices Bozize seized power in a coup and ruled for a decade before being ousted by a rebel coalition in 2013 His fall from power plunged the country into a brutal civil war that fractured communities along political and religious lines and left thousands dead

The former president has already been sentenced in absentia to life at forced labour on separate domestic charges including conspiracy rebellion and murder The new case goes further by directly linking his leadership to systematic attacks on civilians and by invoking international criminal law standards

Victims groups say they hope the proceedings will finally acknowledge the scale of suffering endured during Bozize’s rule but they also fear that trying him in absentia could limit the sense of closure if he is never arrested For the Special Criminal Court the outcome will shape its credibility as it pursues other high profile suspects from all sides of the conflict