The Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic has dashed the hopes of former president François Bozizé and a dozen other members of armed groups. Their candidacies in the 27 December elections were invalidated. Bozizé, president from 2003 to 2013, is caught up by allegations of war crimes against him.
Central Africans had been holding their breath since the Constitutional Court ruled on 27 November on the eligibility of candidates for general elections. The court had then excluded several personalities belonging to armed groups, or prosecuted or convicted for war crimes. Public opinion was wondering what decision the country's highest court would take regarding former president François Bozizé, a candidate in the 27 December presidential elections. Bozizé is facing serious charges of international crimes, although he remains very influential.
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