Panafrican News Agency

Rights group's investigation reveals horror of conflict and election violence in CAR

Bangui, Central African Republic (PANA) - Many civilians have been killed and others injured during the election period in the Central African Republic (CAR), Amnesty International said on Thursday.

In a statement, it called on the CAR authorities to protect civilians and launch independent judicial investigations into abuses and human rights violations by armed groups and security forces.

It said the security situation worsened ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections on 27 December, ahead of which a newly-formed coalition of six armed groups — the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) — tried to stop the elections taking place.

Since 17 December, the CPC has launched a series of attacks against several towns, occupying them.

Central African Republic armed forces, supported by foreign troops in the presence of MINUSCA, clashed with the CPC as they attempted to free the occupied towns, Amnesty International said.

The human rights watchdog said due to the ongoing clashes and the seizure by the CPC of several areas of the country, it has been difficult to collect information on the impact of the conflict on people’s lives.

However, testimonies it has gathered -- alongside analysis and verification of satellite imagery, a video and photographs, -- confirm that many civilians have been killed in several towns including Bambari, in the centre of the country, and Bangui, the capital.

Many people have also been displaced in Bangassou, in the south-east, while the supply of essential goods and humanitarian aid into the country was blocked. 

"In a country where conflict has been raging for two decades, the authorities must now clearly prioritise the protection of human rights and the fight against impunity for those who violate them," Amnesty said. "An important first step is to open independent investigations into the violations and abuses documented."

-0- PANA MA 25Feb2021