A new report by the United Nations (UN) details the dire and worsening human rights situation over the years in the Central African Republic (CAR) and thus, calls for urgent end to human right abuses and violations where armed groups carried out violent bid to disrupt elections.

Meanwhile, the joint report by the UN Human Rights Office and United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the UN Mission in CAR, covers the period from July 2020 to June 2021 in the context of the presidential poll, held in December 2020, and legislative elections, which took place in December 2020, and March and May 2021.

The Human Rights Division of MINUSCA documented 526 incidents of abuses and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law across the country during this period. These violations affected at least 1,221 victims, including 144 civilians or those hors de combat who were killed by the parties to the conflict.

Among the documented abuses and violations are extrajudicial and summary killings, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detentions, unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, conflict-related sexual violence and serious violations against children, including their recruitment by parties to the conflict. In addition, the report notes that attacks and threats of attacks forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes.

However, a coalition of armed groups, known as the Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement (CPC), was responsible for over half of the documented incidents which stood at 54 per cent.

Sadly, the CPC killed and abducted civilians, attacked UN peacekeepers, looted the premises of humanitarian organisations, threatening their staff, and burned down polling stations. The report recounted one incident on March 19 in which an armed group affiliated with the CPC killed three traders in Ouaka area, after tying them up and torturing them. Their bodies were subsequently found with their voting cards tied around their necks.

Interestingly, the report stated that the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), Internal Security Forces (FSI) and other security personnel – including Russian military instructors deployed under an agreement between the Governments of CAR and the Russian Federation, and private military contractors operating in the country were responsible for 46 per cent of the confirmed incidents.

Moreover, credible evidence gathered by the MINUSCA Human Rights Division indicated that these other security personnel were involved in military training and actively participated in military operations, including arresting suspects, and inflicting inhumane treatment and torture on some of them. On a number of occasions and in different locations, they were also reportedly involved in extrajudicial killings.

Meanwhile, Mankeur Ndiaye, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSCA suggested that the only way to stop all the atrocities is to respect human right laws.

“All parties to the conflict are continuing to commit atrocities, amid a deteriorating security situation, particularly in the provinces. A political solution to this crisis and the full respect at all times of international humanitarian and human rights law by all parties to the conflict are the only viable path to a durable peace and sustainable development in CAR.”
Mankeur Ndiaye

However, the report urges the Government to take appropriate measures to hold those responsible for human right violations and abuses accountable and to create a protective environment for civilians and humanitarian workers.