Central African Republic Impunity Fuels Killings, Group Says
By Michael Gunn
Dec 11, 2014
Central African Republic authorities and the United Nations are failing to investigate war crimes that must be tackled to break the cycle of violence, Amnesty International said.
Armed militias have continued to commit atrocities even after Amnesty in July listed 20 individuals who are suspected of involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity, the London-based rights group said today in a report. Some of the men have since been involved in interference with the justice system, while October saw a “significant upsurge” in violence in the capital, Bangui, and across the country, it said.
“The failure to hold accountable those implicated in the killing of civilians, the use of child soldiers and the burning of villages means they are not only able to walk free, but also to continue terrorizing the population without fear of repercussions,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s deputy regional director for West and Central Africa.
Central African Republic has been gripped by violence since a coup by mostly Muslim Seleka rebels in March 2013. The takeover was marked by the widespread killing of civilians and other crimes, according to New York-based Human Rights Watch.
Reprisal attacks followed against Muslims by mainly Christian fighters, known as anti-balaka, and the country is now divided between the anti-balaka militia in the west and Seleka rebels controlling the east, according to the UN.
Individuals Implicated
There is evidence that at least three anti-balaka commanders continue to benefit from a climate of impunity, Amnesty said in today’s report. Dozens of civilians have been killed and thousands displaced since the UN mission took over from an African Union force in September, suggesting UN peacekeepers are struggling to protect civilians, the organization said.
“Those suspected of war crimes too often see violence as a way of achieving power, resources or protection from justice,” Cockburn said.
The report “reflects the situation in Central African Republic,” government spokesman Gaston Mackouzangba said by phone late yesterday, declining to comment further.
A UN peacekeeper was killed and eight others were injured in an attack on a military convoy by militia in Bangui in October. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said in November that attacks on humanitarian workers were increasing after armed men held MSF staff captive for ransom in two separate incidents. The UN mission announced yesterday the arrest of Mahamat Abdul Kadre, a Chadian rebel leader and former Central African Republic official.
‘Act Urgently’
The UN mission and the government signed an agreement in August to set up a special criminal court. Legislation for the establishment of the court has yet to be passed and no funding has been provided, according to Amnesty.
The UN and the government “must act urgently to ensure all those suspected of committing crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, are promptly, independently and effectively investigated,” Cockburn said. “To make this happen, the international community needs to get behind the promised special criminal court and ensure it is operational without delay.”
Sectarian violence has killed more than 5,000 people in the Central African Republic since last December, according to a tally by the Associated Press in September.
To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Gunn in Nairobi at mgunn14@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Paul Richardson at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net
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| Fires from civil conflict north of Bangui during Jan. 2014. |
Dec 11, 2014
Central African Republic authorities and the United Nations are failing to investigate war crimes that must be tackled to break the cycle of violence, Amnesty International said.
Armed militias have continued to commit atrocities even after Amnesty in July listed 20 individuals who are suspected of involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity, the London-based rights group said today in a report. Some of the men have since been involved in interference with the justice system, while October saw a “significant upsurge” in violence in the capital, Bangui, and across the country, it said.
“The failure to hold accountable those implicated in the killing of civilians, the use of child soldiers and the burning of villages means they are not only able to walk free, but also to continue terrorizing the population without fear of repercussions,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s deputy regional director for West and Central Africa.
Central African Republic has been gripped by violence since a coup by mostly Muslim Seleka rebels in March 2013. The takeover was marked by the widespread killing of civilians and other crimes, according to New York-based Human Rights Watch.
Reprisal attacks followed against Muslims by mainly Christian fighters, known as anti-balaka, and the country is now divided between the anti-balaka militia in the west and Seleka rebels controlling the east, according to the UN.
Individuals Implicated
There is evidence that at least three anti-balaka commanders continue to benefit from a climate of impunity, Amnesty said in today’s report. Dozens of civilians have been killed and thousands displaced since the UN mission took over from an African Union force in September, suggesting UN peacekeepers are struggling to protect civilians, the organization said.
“Those suspected of war crimes too often see violence as a way of achieving power, resources or protection from justice,” Cockburn said.
The report “reflects the situation in Central African Republic,” government spokesman Gaston Mackouzangba said by phone late yesterday, declining to comment further.
A UN peacekeeper was killed and eight others were injured in an attack on a military convoy by militia in Bangui in October. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said in November that attacks on humanitarian workers were increasing after armed men held MSF staff captive for ransom in two separate incidents. The UN mission announced yesterday the arrest of Mahamat Abdul Kadre, a Chadian rebel leader and former Central African Republic official.
‘Act Urgently’
The UN mission and the government signed an agreement in August to set up a special criminal court. Legislation for the establishment of the court has yet to be passed and no funding has been provided, according to Amnesty.
The UN and the government “must act urgently to ensure all those suspected of committing crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, are promptly, independently and effectively investigated,” Cockburn said. “To make this happen, the international community needs to get behind the promised special criminal court and ensure it is operational without delay.”
Sectarian violence has killed more than 5,000 people in the Central African Republic since last December, according to a tally by the Associated Press in September.
To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Gunn in Nairobi at mgunn14@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Paul Richardson at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net
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