UN strongly condemns violations in Central African Republic

AP / 8 June 2021
Share this story

The U.N. Security Council on Monday strongly condemned violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Central African Republic and warned that attacks on United Nations peacekeepers there may constitute war crimes.

The press statement was issued after closed-door Security Council discussions and a briefing from Mankeur Ndiaye, the U.N. special envoy to the Central African Republic. Earlier, the council held an open meeting on the broader central Africa region where the United States and Russia traded accusations over actions in the Central African Republic.

U.S. political coordinator Rodney Hunter expressed outrage at reports that Russian military instructors led military offensives in the country “characterized by confrontations with U.N. peacekeepers, threats against U.N. personnel, violations of international humanitarian law, extensive sexual violence, and widespread looting, including of humanitarian organizations.”

Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Anna Evstigneeva, accused the U.S. of making “baseless allegations” and said the U.S. action, coupled with a campaign in some media, “constitutes a coordinated action aimed at besmirching our effective … assistance to stabilization in the CAR.”

She said cases of suspected violations of international humanitarian law should be investigated by competent bodies in the country once they receive “meaningful evidence and facts,” and she called U.S. threats to revoke bilateral assistance to nations in difficult positions “blackmail.”

The sessions followed a May 30 border incident that has heightened tensions between the Central African Republic and Chad.

Chad’s defense ministry said troops from the neighboring country attacked a Chadian border post, killing one soldier and kidnapping and then executing five others. Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported three Russian military instructors, part of a mission to support the Central African Republic’s military, were also killed during the operation by a mine explosion.

The agency quoted Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying Wednesday that the deaths would not lead Russia to decrease the number of military instructors, who are there at the invitation of the Central African Republic government.

The Security Council statement issued after its closed meeting gave no details of the reported human rights and humanitarian violations.

It urged the Central African Republic to ensure that it complies with the status of forces agreement with the United Nations, which has a 15,000-strong peacekeeping force in the country.

Council members called on the country’s authorities, U.N. peacekeepers “and all forces present on the ground to coordinate and take all appropriate measures to enhance the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers and personnel.“

The mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013. A peace deal between the government and 14 rebel groups was signed in February 2019, but violence blamed on the country’s former president, Francois Bozize, and his allies threatens to nullify the agreement. It erupted after the constitutional court rejected Bozize’s candidacy to run for president in December.

President Faustin Archange Touadera won re-election in late December to a second term with 53% of the vote, but he continues to face opposition from forces linked to Bozize.

The Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect reported on May 31 that “armed groups continue to control the majority of territory in CAR and profit from illegal taxation and arms trafficking, and the cross-border flow of foreign fighters, arms and natural resources are fueling the crisis.”

“A climate of impunity has enabled ongoing violence and allegations of serious human rights violations and abuses by armed groups as well as state security forces and their allies,” said the report by the center, which was established in 2008 by governments, non-governmental groups and leading human rights figures including the late former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Last Posts

Prof. Peter Katjavivi (middle) speaks in Botswana last week at the signing of the Agreement to Amend the SADC Treaty to establish the SADC PF as an official institution of the regional bloc. Photo: Bright Khumanego

“Are we really here?” – Prof Peter Katjavivi reacts to transformation of SADC PF

Share this story

Share this storyBy Moses Magadza Gaborone, Botswana – In Luke 2:25-32, Simeon, a devout man who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen Christ, said –…

8 June 2021

The Executive Secretary of SADC, Mr. Elias Magosi (left) speaks while the Speaker of the Parliament of South Africa, Hon Thoko Didiza and Botswana’s Minister for State President, Hon. Moeti Ceaser Mohwasa listen in. Photo: Bright Kumanego

SADC urges swift ratification of Regional Parliament Treaty before August Summit

Share this story

Share this storyBy Moses Magadza Gaborone, Botswana – The Executive Secretary of SADC, Mr. Elias Magosi, has hailed the recent signing of the Agreement to amend the SADC Treaty to transform the SADC Parliamentary Forum…

8 June 2021

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana, Honourable Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse. Photo: Bright Khumanego, Parliament of Botswana

Botswana Speaker says SADC Regional Parliament will boost citizens’ participation

Share this story

Share this storyBy Moses Magadza Gaborone, Botswana – The Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana, Honourable Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse has said that the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a regional parliament will…

8 June 2021

ELATED: Botswana’s Minister for State President Honourable Moeti Ceaser Mohwasa (right) with the Speaker of South Africa Hon Thoko Didiza at the signing ceremony. Photo: Bright Khumanego, Parliament of Botswana.

Call to embrace SADC Parliament

Share this story

Share this story… as Botswana signs Treaty Amendment Agreement By Moses Magadza in Gaborone GABORONE- Botswana’s Minister for State President Honourable Moeti Ceaser Mohwasa, has welcomed the signing of the Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty…

8 June 2021

ussian-delegates-emerging-from-a-Meeting-in-Riyadh

Main outcomes of the Russia and United States expert groups meeting

Share this story

Share this story(March 25, 2025) 1. In line with the agreement reached by the presidents of Russia and the United States, the Russian and American sides agreed to provide for the implementation of the Black…

8 June 2021

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Channel One on Talks in Riyadh and their Outcome

Share this story

Share this storyMoscow, March 25, 2025 Question: Let us begin with your birthday. You have received plenty of birthday wishes. There was even a “marathon” of your wonderful verses. Did you have time to look…

8 June 2021

Related Stories