Jurisdiction in the general situation
CAR ratified the Rome Statute on 3 October 2001 and referred the situation in its territory since 1 July 2002 to the ICC. The ICC therefore may exercise its jurisdiction over crimes listed in the Rome Statute committed on the territory of CAR or by its nationals from 1 July 2002 onwards.
Context and alleged crimes
The ICC's investigation in CAR I focussed on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the context of a conflict in CAR since 1 July 2002, with the peak of violence in 2002 and 2003. (See CAR II for the situation in CAR from 2012 onward.)
In opening the investigation in May 2007, the Office of the Prosecutor issued a press release stating: "Based on a preliminary analysis of alleged crimes, the peak of violence and criminality occurred in 2002 and 2003. Civilians were killed and raped; and homes and stores were looted. The alleged crimes occurred in the context of an armed conflict between the government and rebel forces. This is the first time the Prosecutor is opening an investigation in which allegations of sexual crimes far outnumber alleged killings. (…) Hundreds of rape victims have come forward to tell their stories, recounting crimes acted out with particular cruelty. Reports detailing their accounts were ultimately provided to the Prosecutor's Office. Victims described being raped in public; being attacked by multiple perpetrators; being raped in the presence of family members; and being abused in other ways if they resisted their attackers. Many of the victims were subsequently shunned by their families and communities."
The investigation has produced one main case,
The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, involving charges of the following crimes:
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war crimes: murder, rape and pillaging; and
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crimes against humanity: murder and rape
Proceedings began in another case involving charges against five suspects for offences against the administration of justice allegedly committed in connection with the case of
The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo.