Trial in the "Bossembélé" case

By Firmine YABADA l LNC Translated into english by Karen Ann SULLIVAN

(Bangui, July 3, 2026 | LAMINE MÉDIA) In the trial known as the "Bossembélé" case before the Special Criminal Court (SCC), the First Trial Chamber decided yesterday, Thursday, July 2, to adjourn proceedings until August 11. This decision followed a defense motion stating that they had not received all the necessary materials to examine the procedural issues raised during the previous hearing. Regarding the substance of the case, the defense reiterated its request to exclude certain prosecution witnesses as well as several facts it considers outside the scope defined by the committal order sending the accused to trial. For defense counsel Edith Douzima, this move is a matter of adhering to procedural rules. "We work according to the rules, so these issues must be resolved before the proceedings begin. The problem concerns the committal order sending the accused to trial. The defense asked the Court to exclude certain witnesses and facts that fall outside the scope of the matter at hand. Curiously, some of the prosecutor's witnesses have strayed from the relevant facts and timeframes. That is why we have once again brought this issue before the Court. Unfortunately, this has not been done," she stated. She further noted that the defense had not yet received all the requested information regarding the objections raised last Tuesday. Added to this were the observations from the civil parties—submitted only the day before—which the lawyers said they had not had time to review. "The debate on this issue was supposed to take place today. However, we have not yet received all the information regarding the points we raised last Tuesday, and the civil parties' observations were only transmitted to us yesterday." "We have therefore not yet been able to examine them." In response, the First Assize Chamber decided to grant the defense's request by postponing the hearing of the case to August 11, 2026. On that date, the Court will first have to rule on the procedural issues raised before proceeding with the substantive arguments of this landmark case being heard by the Special Criminal Court.

For: LAMINE MEDIA (in FR and GB)

Date: July 3, 2026

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