Reparations: Special Criminal Court opts for pragmatism

As the Special Criminal Court (SCC) enters the second year of its second five-year mandate, the UN-backed hybrid tribunal based in Bangui is preparing to pass the reparations test. Like the Court, the amounts are modest, the victims repaired few, and the judges’ stated intention is to ensure that they receive these little reparations without delay. “Reparation must be effective,” stressed the appeal chamber in its October 23 decision on the civil interests of victims of the May 21, 2019 Koundjili and Lémouna massacre. While a greater number of victims were taken into account on appeal, the total amount of compensation was revised downwards compared with the first-instance decision, from 22.8 million CFA francs (almost 35,000 euros) to 17.3 million (just over 26,000 euros). From now on, 32 rightful claimants representing the 32 people killed according to the court in the two villages, will be taken into account, instead of 16 previously. For them, the amount of compensation has been reduced by more than a third – from 1 million (1,500 euros) to 350,000 CFA francs (530 euros). The amount allocated to two rape victims, who were minors at the time of the events, remains the same: 1 million for...