UN expert denounces attacks by armed groups in Central African Republic

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - Insecurity and desolation caused by armed groups in the Central African Republic was condemned Thursday by the UN’s independent expert on the human rights situation in the country.

The armed Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) carried out "bellicose activities" against civilians, local authorities and agents of the sub-prefectural election authority days before Dec. 27, 2020 presidential and legislative elections, according to Yao Agbetse, as quoted by the UN.

The CPC has effectively "destabilized the electoral process," and its operations have harmed economic activities of the Central African Republic by targeting civilian, humanitarian and commercial convoys from neighboring Cameroon, he said

Agbetse reported "several violations of human rights and international humanitarian law cases" by Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and Russian instructors as they repelled CPC attacks and liberated several localities.

Agbetse recommended legal clarification of the status of Russian instructors and their obligations under international law.

UN experts expressed alarm in March at the government's use of "Russian trainers" and cited several violations, including "mass summary executions, arbitrary detentions, torture during interrogations, enforced disappearances, forced displacement of the civilian population, indiscriminate targeting of civilian facilities, violations of the right to health and increasing attacks on humanitarian actors."

"The close links between the various actors, as well as the lack of transparency, further undermine the chances of conducting an impartial investigation and holding those responsible for these abuses and violations to account," a UN panel said.

The panel urged clarification of the role of "international partners" and accountability to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Central African Republic.

Russian instructors have been repatriated to be tried in Russia, while some FACA are being prosecuted before courts, according to Justice Minister Arnaud Djoubaye Abazene.

"Other more serious cases will be referred to the Special Criminal Court or the International Criminal Court (ICC)," he recently said while unveiling the results of a special national investigation into the situation.

Abazene said the human rights situation in the CAR is undergoing a very significant evolution in terms of re-establishing the authority of the state throughout the country.