The SCC, which was established in 2015, should recruit additional staff and receive greater government and international support, HRW said in its latest report on the situation in the CAR.

The court is staffed by national and international judges, and prosecutors.

"The level of court staff overseeing investigations is very limited," the New York-based human rights watchdog said.

"Existing staff should work to intensify investigative activity, but an additional panel of investigative judges and more prosecutors would help boost investigative capacity.

"Many of the staff needed for the court's administration are also not in place and should be recruited without further delay," it added.

The SCC did not start investigations until parliament adopted its rules of procedure and evidence in May 2018.

The court held its first official session last October, and investigations are now pending in the prosecutor's office and before the court's investigative judges.

"Central Africans have waited so long to see justice for the many killings, rapes, and other atrocities committed in the Central African Republic," said Elise Keppler, Associate International Justice Director at HRW.

"The Special Criminal Court holds promise, but it has had a slow start and needs to intensify investigations so trials can be initiated based on strong, compelling evidence."

HRW said the SCC was "operating in a tremendously difficult setting after years of brutal conflict and insecurity in the country".

Following up on its May 2018 report on the SCC, HRW conducted research in Bangui in April on the court's progress and the challenges it faced.

Those interviewed included court and UN staff, human rights defenders, lawyers and donors, but no government officials were available to contribute to the research, HRW said.

"Justice must be at the forefront of a state that promotes good governance and democracy," one human rights defender told HRW in April.

"Without justice, everything else will be wrecked."

HRW said human rights activists and victims "expressed strong concerns that vague provisions on justice in a peace accord signed in February could limit the government's cooperation and support to the Special Criminal Court".

They criticised the integration of people implicated in crimes into the government because of the recent peace deal.

"We are seeing at this moment that our persecutors rule over us," said a woman who leads a support group for victims.

"They have entered the government."

On the financial side, HRW reported that the SCC, as of July 10, had a funding gap of about

US$1 million for 2019 operations, and no funds pledged for future years of operations, which are expected to cost US$12.4 million annually.

HRW called on existing donors to increase their support, adding that the SCC "remains highly dependent on the UN, which can limit the court's capacity to make decisions and move its work forward".

Efforts to bring together court principals, UN partners, and donors to resolve outstanding questions more efficiently were underway and should be continued, HRW said.

"A unified comprehensive budget that identifies all court costs and funding sources should also be prepared to better clarify the court's needs," it added.

Another setback identified is the non-existence in the CAR's domestic system of programmes such as witness and victim protection and support, legal help for accused and victims, and outreach to affected communities.

Although international experts are helping to develop these areas, HRW said further progress was needed so that the experience gained could benefit the country's national justice system.

"The Special Criminal Court emerged out of the strong, unequivocal desire on the part of Central Africans to break cycles of violence and impunity in the country," Ms Keppler said.

"The government and international partners should protect their investment by being vigilant on the need for justice and giving the court essential resources to get its difficult job done."