Rights expert urges militias lay down arms, stop ‘terror, insecurity’ in CAR

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau

UNITED NATIONS, 8^th August. UN human rights expert Yao Agbetse, who monitors rights abuses in CAR said on Friday that armed groups in the Central African Republic must lay down their arms and engage in political dialogue, urged the international community to strengthen efforts to restore State authority and end impunity there.

“I vehemently condemn the obstinacy of the Coalition of Patriots for Change and other armed groups who continue to spread terror, insecurity and suffering among the civilian population and victims of violations and abuses,” said Yao Agbetse.

He expressed dismay over reports from residents in the town of Bria, capital of the Haute-Kotto prefecture, who described the ease with which armed groups can move in and out of neighboring Sudan at the end of a ten-day official visit to the country,

Expert said that in Haute Kotto and Mbomou prefectures, the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic and the Front Populaire pour la Renaissance en Centrafrique have committed numerous grave human rights violations, including sexual violence, particularly rape and sexual slavery, mostly targeting girls aged 11-17.

Mr. Agbetse said Mahamat Salleh, an FPRC leader based in Nzako, has been implicated in several cases of rape and other serious human rights abuses.

He pointed to the brutal, organized attack on the village of Boyo last December, saying that human rights violations committed by the CAR national army and the internal security forces and their auxiliaries were “unacceptable”.

Russian allies and the FACA had allegedly provided support to the Christian anti-Balaka militia who committed atrocities there, including beheadings and sexual violence, and forced thousands of residents to flee Mr. Agbetse said.

“The seriousness of these facts requires appropriate responses from national authorities towards the victims,” Mr. Agbetse said.

“I recommend that the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic set up a more reactive warning system and regular joint operations with the FACA to prevent tragedies like the one in Boyo”.