The UN reports that WTA fighters, linked to the military, committed serious human rights violations, including rapes and murders, particularly targeting Muslim civilians and Sudanese refugees in CAR. These attacks were carried out in southern regions, revealing the ongoing violence in the country despite some stabilization of urban areas. The need for accountability and the clarification of military affiliations is critical in addressing these violations.
The United Nations has reported alarming incidents of civilian rapes and murders in the Central African Republic (CAR), implicating armed groups, including one associated with the military, during attacks that occurred from October to January. Specifically, the UN stated that these assaults were orchestrated by members of the Wagner Ti Azande (WTA), an armed faction linked to the national army. The WTA, which branched off from the Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (AAKG), participated in these violent acts primarily in the southern regions of Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou.
Victims predominantly included adults and children from Muslim communities, many of whom were refugees from the largely Muslim nation of Sudan. Investigators from MINUSCA, the UN stabilization mission in CAR, reported that at least 24 individuals were killed, with some victims subjected to horrific methods, including being bound and thrown alive into a river. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, emphasized the necessity of holding perpetrators accountable to prevent recurrence of such brutalities.
Turk urged the clarification of connections between the WTA and the national army, citing that the WTA and to a lesser degree the AAKG were involved in severe human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, gang rapes, torture, and significant looting. The establishment of the WTA in February 2023 aimed at safeguarding the Zande community from attacks by the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), a rebel group predominantly impacting the region.
The Zande, primarily Christians, represent the largest ethnic community in the affected areas, while the Fulani, mostly Muslims, frequently clash with them. The WTA fighters, affiliated with the government army, received training from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner in May 2024, amid governmental efforts to reclaim control over southern territories. The UN report underscored that Muslim populations and Sudanese asylum seekers faced direct targeting due to their perceived support for the UPC.
In response to these grave accusations, CAR authorities reported the arrest of 14 suspects in Haut-Mbomou and the capital city, Bangui. Despite CAR’s vast mineral wealth, it remains one of the world’s poorest nations, having faced continuous political turmoil since gaining independence from France in 1960. Although the government has stabilized major urban centers recently, sporadic violence endures in remote areas as rebels continue to confront the national army.
Human Rights Watch highlighted that approximately 2.8 million individuals experienced violence last year, with an estimated 1.2 million Central Africans still classified as refugees or internally displaced, despite ongoing attempts to facilitate their return home, according to UN assessments.
The United Nations’ recent report highlighting severe human rights violations in the Central African Republic raises serious concerns about accountability and the safety of vulnerable populations. The involvement of armed groups, particularly the Wagner Ti Azande, in such violent acts underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining peace and security within the country. With many still displaced and living in fear, there remains an urgent need for action to address these atrocities and support the affected communities.
Original Source: www.newindianexpress.com
