Beginning***Africa

Central African Republic (2) -- Analyses -- 2010

More about Human Rights Watch report

16.08.2010

The new 108-page report, "State of Anarchy: Rebellion and Abuses Against Civilians," is based on three weeks of on-the-ground research. It documents the human rights abuses and breaches of the laws of war committed in northern CAR by both rebel groups and the government forces, and also documents attacks by banditry groups in the northwest known as zaraguinas, who often kidnap children for ransom.
"Just across the border from Darfur, the army of the Central African Republic has killed hundreds of innocent civilians and forced tens of thousands to flee their villages," said Peter Takirambudde, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The widespread burning of homes by government security forces is the signature abuse of the conflict."
Since the beginning of the conflict in mid-2005, the CAR security forces have been responsible for the most serious violations in the conflict, including multiple summary executions and unlawful killings, widespread burning of civilian homes, and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians. Human Rights Watch research determined that a single unit of the elite Presidential Guard, based in the town of Bossangoa, has been responsible for many of the killings and village burnings. Security forces often killed dozens of civilians in a single day, and some of the killings involved unspeakable brutality. On February 11, 2006, for instance, the Presidential Guard killed at least 30 civilians.