Authorities announced on Friday that exiled former Central African Republic President Francois Bozize has been sentenced to life in absentia for his involvement in conspiracy and rebellion.

Bozize, aged 76, who was in exile in Chad until March before relocating to Guinea Bissau, leads the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), a coalition of rebel groups formed in December 2020.

The verdict, delivered by an appeals court in the capital city of Bangui, found Bozize and his accomplices guilty of compromising the internal security of the state and "murders." This ruling applies to two of Bozize's sons and 20 other co-accused, primarily rebel leaders. The specific timeframe and crimes for which they were convicted have not been disclosed.

This development signifies a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict that has plagued the Central African Republic since 2013. The conflict began when Muslim-dominated armed groups overthrew Bozize from power, leading to a protracted civil conflict. To regain control, Bozize established armed militias known as the anti-Balakas, primarily composed of Christians.

While the conflict has somewhat subsided since 2018, the Central African Republic, one of the world's poorest nations, continues to experience sporadic bouts of violence and remains deeply impoverished.