Militants in CAR use rape as war tactic: Rights group

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Militia groups in the Central African Republic have used rape and sexual slavery as a war tactic during the five-year conflict, Human Rights Watch said in a report Thursday.

The rights group said the main actors in the conflict, the Seleka group said to be predominantly Muslims and the Christian “anti-Balaka group, have used sexual violence as a revenge tactic to receive support in the ongoing sectarian conflict.

‘‘Commanders have tolerated widespread sexual violence by their forces and, in some cases, appear to have ordered it or committed it themselves,’’ the 176-page document said.

The report documents 305 cases of rape and sexual slavery carried out against 296 women and girls by members of the militia groups between early 2013 and mid-2017.

The rights group says although most of the cases documented are not only crimes under Central African law, but also constitute war crimes; no member of the militia groups has been arrested.

The report also documents harrowing testimonies of survivors who say they were forced to watch as their wives, daughters or other relatives were raped.

“When one Seleka fighter took me by force, my husband said, ‘No, that’s a poor woman. Don’t do anything to her.’’ ‘‘One came and told him to be quiet and that he should undress.’’

“Each day, four anti-Balaka came to have sex with me in the morning. Then five men at 3 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.,’’ 25 year-old Rachida said.

Human Rights Watch also documented cases of torture during the sexual violence where fighters whipped women and girls, tied them up for long periods, burned them, and threatened them with death.

Thirteen survivors, three of whom were children at the time of the attacks, said they became pregnant from the rapes.

Rape victims were also denied health services at hospitals including HIV tests because they could not afford to pay for the services.

The rights group has appealed to the Central African Republic government.

The Central African Republic , a mineral-rich landlocked country, descended into anarchy in 2013, when Seleka rebels said to be mostly Muslims overthrew Christian President Francois Bozize, who had come to power in a 2003 coup.

Micheal Djotidia was then installed, becoming the country’s first Muslim president since independence from France in 1960, but his reign was short-lived after regional leaders forced him to step down.

Since then, there have been tit-for-tat attacks between Muslim and Christian militiamen.