Truth Commission without Truth: A Critical Analysis of the Truth-Seeking Process in the Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) has been plagued by political instability andviolence since gaining independence in 1960. After the 2003 failed attempt at creating atruth commission, the CAR established a Truth, Justice, Reparation and ReconciliationCommission (TJRRC) in 2020 to investigate past human rights abuses and promotenational healing. However, the TJRRC's truth-seeking process has been hampered by alack of polical will, inadequate resources, political constraints and security threats. Thisstudy aims to assess the effectiveness of the CAR's truth-seeking process in fulfilling itsgoals. The paper adopts a qualitative approach, guided by a case study design, with datacollected through semi-structured interviews with the process’s stakeholders, andsecondary data sourced from scholarly publications and reports related to the topic andcase study. Interview participants were interrogated on the truth-seeking activities,challenges encountered, and insights into its impact. The findings reveal that the varioustruth-seeking attempts in the CAR encountered substantial impediments in performingits fact-finding and truth-telling mandates. Truth Commissioners lacked independence,and resources and were politically controlled. Persistent insecurity limited the truthseeking actors from accessing conflict-affected areas. Inadequate victim protectionmechanisms prevented victims from testifying. The CAR's truth-seeking processdemonstrates the obstacles to launching an effective transitional justice strategy duringenduring conflict and weak state capacity. Without suitable political, institutional,financial, and security backing, truth-seeking failed to achieve its essential task ofuncovering the truth about the legacies of atrocities. This case emphasises the need fortruth-seeking supported by inclusive institutional mechanisms and politicalcommitment.