The UN reports armed attacks by military-linked groups in the Central African Republic, with numerous civilians raped and killed. The allegations involve the Wagner Ti Azande group, responsible for specific targeting of Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees. Authorities have arrested several suspects, yet the cycle of violence continues amid ongoing conflict in the region.
The United Nations has reported that armed groups, including one linked to the military, have committed severe atrocities against civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR). These incidents, which occurred during assaults in October and January, involved rapes and murders, greatly impacting Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees in the country. The UN specifically pointed to the Wagner Ti Azande (WTA) group, which has ties to the national army, as being responsible for these attacks.
The WTA is an offshoot of the Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (AAKG), which also participated in the violence in southern regions like Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou. Investigations revealed that at least 24 individuals were killed, with some subjected to gruesome treatments such as being bound and thrown into a river. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, emphasized that accountability must be pursued to prevent recurrence of such violations.
Volker Turk’s office, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), described further heinous acts by the WTA and AAKG, including summary executions, gang rapes, forced labor, torture, and extensive looting. The WTA emerged from the AAKG, which was tasked with protecting the Zande community against attacks from the Fulani rebel group, the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC).
The Zande community, primarily Christian, constitutes the largest ethnic group in Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou, while the Fulani are predominantly Muslim. The report mentions that the WTA fighters have been trained by the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, further complicating the conflict landscape. They appear to have specifically targeted Muslim populations and Sudanese asylum seekers, viewing them as supporters of the UPC.
In response to the violence, CAR authorities have arrested 14 suspects in Haut-Mbomou and the capital city, Bangui. Despite being one of the poorest nations, CAR has rich natural resources and has experienced significant political instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. Though violence has decreased in major cities, clashes persist in remote areas between rebels, the national army, and their mercenary allies, including Russian and Rwandan troops.
Human Rights Watch reported that last year, approximately 2.8 million people were affected by violence in CAR. While efforts to resettle displaced populations have been made, around 1.2 million individuals remain either as refugees or internally displaced within the country, according to UN estimates.
The situation in the Central African Republic remains dire, with the UN highlighting extreme violence against civilians linked to armed groups associated with the military. The report emphasizes the need for accountability and clarification of the military’s relationship with these factions. As CAR struggles with historic instability and widespread displacement, the international community is called to take action to protect vulnerable populations and address human rights violations.
Original Source: www.newindianexpress.com
