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09Jan15

UN report concludes war crimes and crimes against humanity in CAR

The UN published a report Thursday which stated the acts committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity but not genocide. The report summarized the investigation of the situation in the CAR, which began in December 2013. The purpose of the investigation was to identify and hold accountable the perpetrators of violations against humanitarian laws. The report states that holding perpetrators accountable for the violations will help bring an end to the impunity in the CAR which contributed to the cycle of violence in the country. The report identifies the responsible actors as the members of the Armed Forces of the CAR under President Bozizé and the principal militia groups the Séléka and the anti-balaka. While the report concludes that the crimes committed do not meet the threshold required to be considered genocide, it holds the principal actors responsible for serious humanitarian offenses including rape and the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population.

The CAR has faced civil unrest for years. Violence escalated after the predominately Muslim-based Séléka rebels ousted the government of Bozize in March 2013. In September the International Criminal Court opened a second investigation into CAR war crimes. In January of last year the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic and imposing travel bans and asset freezes on those suspected of war crimes in the CAR.

[Source: JURIST Legal News & Research Services, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 09Jan15]

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This document has been published on 16Mar16 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.