UN Report Accuses Army-Linked Fighters of Atrocities in Central African Republic

A UN report details severe human rights abuses in the Central African Republic, implicating the Wagner Ti Azande group and national military ties in rapes and murders, predominantly targeting Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees. The report stresses the need for accountability and clarifications regarding military affiliations. Despite government efforts, violence and displacements persist, reflecting the country’s ongoing instability since independence.

The United Nations has reported that armed groups, including the Wagner Ti Azande (WTA), linked to the Central African Republic’s military, have committed atrocities against civilians. This includes incidents of rape and murder occurring between October and January in the regions of Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou. The victims primarily belonged to Muslim communities, including refugees from Sudan, with at least 24 confirmed deaths. Some individuals met gruesome fates, being bound and thrown into rivers, as noted by investigators from MINUSCA, the UN stabilization force.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk asserted, “These horrible crimes must not go unpunished. Accountability is fundamental to ensure such violations never happen again.” He urged for the clarification of the connection between the WTA and the national army. The report detailed that the WTA, stemming from the Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (AAKG), engaged in serious human rights violations, including summary executions and torture. The AAKG was established in February 2023 purportedly to protect the Zande community from threats posed by the Fulani rebel group, the UPC.

The predominantly Christian Zande are the largest ethnic group in the affected areas, while the Fulani mostly share a Muslim identity. WTA fighters, reportedly trained by the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, aligned with the national army, further complicating the conflict. The UN investigation indicated that Central African Muslims and Sudanese asylum seekers were particularly targeted for their perceived association with the UPC.

The Central African government has arrested 14 suspects in connection with these incidents. Despite its rich natural resources, the Central African Republic remains one of the poorest nations, having experienced chronic instability, including numerous coups and civil wars since gaining independence from France in 1960. Although the conflict has diminished in urban areas, remote regions continue to witness violence between rebels and the national army, supported by foreign mercenaries. Human Rights Watch reported that violence affected 2.8 million individuals last year, with approximately 1.2 million Central Africans still displaced.

The UN report highlights severe human rights abuses in the Central African Republic, primarily committed by the WTA group linked to the national army. Victimized communities, particularly the Muslim population and Sudanese refugees, have suffered greatly, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and the establishment of clear military affiliations. Ongoing violence exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in a nation grappling with historical instability and significant socioeconomic challenges.

Original Source: www.newindianexpress.com