The conflict between President Francois Bozize of the Central African Republic and former President Ange-Felix Patasse appears to be headed in two varying directions. On one end, the conflict could be headed toward another future military clash or coup attempt. However, on the other, international judicial action is being sought by the CAR government - a trend increasingly being seen in other cases on the continent. If the latter turns out to be successful, it could be part of the beginning of a promising wave of increased confidence in international tribunals by leaders on the African continent.

In March 2003, General Bozize, a populist with an extensive military background, toppled Patasse in a coup while Patasse was attending a regional conference in Niger. Ten years earlier, when Patasse ascended to the presidency, Bozize was one of his strong supporters – in 1996 and 1997, he took a lead role in putting down several rebel insurgencies during a period of several army mutinies. But, in 2001, Patasse suspected Bozize of being involved in a coup attempt that year and soon thereafter Bozize and many of his supporters fled to neighboring Chad. In 2002, Bozize launched an unsuccessful coup but regrouped, and when he took power in March 2003 he entered the capital of Bangui with the sight of people dancing in the streets (BBC, “Profile of Francois Bozize”).

There are signs that a future military clash between the Bozize government and other groups, most notably supporters of former President Ange-Felix Patasse, could be looming. In March 2006, President Bozize issued a communiqué that Patasse had established a training base for foreign mercenaries on the CAR’s porous northwest border via the news. The CAR government has admitted that the northwest region of the country is instable, and Prime Minister Elie Doté stated unequivocally that “there is an insurrection in the northern part of the country carried out by people opposed to the ruling regime” (IRIN Africa, “Central African Republic: Government Accuses Ex-President of Fomenting Rebellion”). Also, the Bozize government recently replaced its ambassador to the Sudan, alleging he was involved in the recent attempted coup in Chad and was still loyal to former President Patasse. However, former President Patasse is not the only looming threat to the stability of the Bozize government. A group of armed recruits from Chad who were expelled from the country by Bozize after allegedly assisting him in his coup of Patasse are still active. In late April, two planes, each carrying approximately 50 soldiers and military equipment, landed in the instable northern part of the CAR. The Bozize government suspects that they had direct links with the attempted coup in neighboring Chad, though it is unclear whether or not they are loyal to Patasse (Reuters, “Planes with Suspected Rebels Land in Central Africa”).

In a recent article, Craig Timberg noted that many human rights activists and legal experts believe a new era may be approaching in which African disputes are increasingly being resolved by judicial entities rather than by military conflicts. For instance, international tribunals have been active in trying former President Charles Taylor of Liberia for war crimes and tried  leaders of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The International Criminal Court is also currently investigating incidents in the Ivory Coast, Uganda, and the Congo (The Mercury News, “Courts, Not Soldiers, Increasingly Resolving Disputes” ).

The Central African Republic is also among the countries seeking judicial resolution to disputes with opposition leaders. The Bozize government asked the International Criminal Court last month to investigate actions of former President Patasse and his leaders in response to the failed October 2002 coup attempt. According to the French human rights organization FIDH, after the failed coup, mercenaries led by Patasse ally Jean-Pierre Bemba committed numerous rapes, injuries, and pillages for war booty on the civilian population and they have strong evidence which suggests the probable existence of two mass graves in the country (FIDH).

One of the observations of the involvement of international tribunals in some cases is that they have a feel of “victor’s justice” to them (The Mercury News). In the case of the Central African Republic, that may be the case with Bozize and his rivalry with Patasse. However, in stating that Patasse allies were likely causing instability in northern parts of the country, the CAR government urged citizens to remain calm and “leave the issue to the judiciary for action” (IRIN Africa). In a time of great instability in the Great Lakes Region, such a statement, if the government’s intentions are correct, is a sign of increasing confidence in judicial mechanisms and adds to the move to allow a more impartial International Criminal Court to investigate Mr. Patasse.

In addition, it should be noted that the Central African Republic held a multiparty election last year in which Bozize garnered 64 percent of the vote (although Patasse was excluded from participating). Is this the beginning, as Timberg states, “of a more advanced variety of the rule of law in which all citizens – regardless of political power – are treated equally by impartial courts”? (The Mercury News) Or will the Central African Republic see repeated coup attempts? Although the Bozize government’s strength is tenuous right now, their signs of increased confidence in judicial resolution of disputes is a very positive recent step toward increased democratization and a greater emphasis on the rule of law. Even more importantly, it provides hope in a region that is so devastated right now by war, suffering, and conflict.

References

BBC News. (March 16, 2003). “Profile of Francois Bozize.” Retrieved from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

FIDH. (February 13, 2003). “War Crimes in the Central African Republic: FIDH Formally Brings its First Case Before the International Criminal Court.” Retrieved from: http://www.fidh.org/

IRIN Africa. (March 13, 2006). “Central African Republic: Government Accuses Ex-President of Fomenting Rebellion.” Retrieved from:  http://www.irinnews.org/

Reuters. (April 28, 2006). “Planes with Suspected Rebels Land in Central Africa." Retrieved from: http://za.today.reuters.com/

The Mercury News. (May 3, 2006). “Courts, Not Soldiers, Increasingly Resolving Disputes.” Retreived from: http://www.mercurynews.com/

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