According to a recent report by Amnesty International, many civilians have been killed and injured during and after the election period in the Central African Republic that saw the rejection of a former president’s candidacy.
While the situation in the landlocked region had been volatile for a while, cases of violence worsened during the 2020 presidential elections, especially after former President Francois Bozize was barred from participating in the December polls. The decision prompted Bozize to join hands with other armed groups, some of which were part of the Seleka rebel that toppled him in 2013, thereby plunging the country into instability.
At least 100,000 people have been displaced within the country by the latest violence. Another 107,000 fled to neighboring countries – Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of Congo – according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The rights group called on the authorities to protect civilians and launch independent judicial investigations into abuses and human rights violations by armed groups and security forces.
“Civilians and their access to humanitarian assistance must be protected during conflicts. All parties to the conflict, including Central African forces, foreign forces, and armed groups, must respect their international humanitarian law obligations. They must do their best to protect civilians during clashes and attacks,” said Amnesty International researcher Abdoulaye Diarra.
“In a country where conflict has been raging for two decades, the authorities must now clearly prioritize the protection of human rights and the fight against impunity for those who violate them. An important first step is to open independent investigations into the violations and abuses documented.”
The group also says testimonies, satellite imagery, and photographic analysis can confirm the killing of 14 people in Bambari and the capital Bangui. Ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections on December 27, 2020, a coalition of six armed groups – the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) – tried to stop the elections from taking place. Since December 17, the CPC launched a series of attacks against several towns, occupying them.
The Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), according to Amnesty International, is allegedly led by Bozize in the Central African Republic.
