UN calls for urgent measures to fight impunity in CAR

UN official has called for urgent measures to fight impunity in Central African Republic (CAR), before it gets out of hands.

Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA), made the call on Thursday in Bangui.

He said a new UN report detailing violations and human rights abuses in the strife-torn Bangui late last year, had prompted the call for urgent measures in the fight against impunity and to prevent future violations.

Onanga-Anyanga said the mission planned to share the findings of its investigations with the ICC and the Special Criminal Court for CAR, which would be established in the near future

The special representative stressed that the move had also become so important, most especially as CAR prepared for the second round of presidential elections this weekend.

Onanga-Anyanga disclosed that the report, which would be released later this month, detailed grave human rights abuses committed following the eruption of violence in the capital city of Bangui, from 26 Sept. 26 to Oct.20, 2015.

“The period was marked by the targeting and killing of civilians, and widespread looting and burning of houses and property, among other human rights violations.

The special representative, therefore, called on CAR authorities, armed groups and the international community to support the electoral process, to reject all forms of violence, and to respect the results of the polls.

“Peaceful and legitimate elections will mark a major step toward reconciliation, justice and sustainable peace in CAR.

He expressed concern that the weakness of State authorities in Bangui, and their widespread absence outside the capital, meant that there was a serious risk that those responsible for human rights violations would enjoy impunity.

Onanga-Anyangae reiterated the UN’s commitment to improving the administration of justice in the country.

He noted that the violence in Bangui had also set off a series of violent incidents throughout the CAR, including in Bambari, Kaga-Bandoro, Bouar, Carnot and Sibut.

The first round of presidential elections was held on Dec. 30, 2015, although no candidate received more than 50 per cent of the votes.

An interim government has been in place since 2014, with the second round of elections postponed several times due to inter-communal violence.

Meanwhile, Fatou Bensouda, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), said her Office would record any instance of violence in the CAR and that anyone committing atrocity crimes would be held accountable.

She said more than three years of civil war and sectarian violence had displaced thousands of people in the CAR amid continuing clashes between the mainly Muslim Séléka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, which are mostly Christian.

The prosecutor said UN had recently reported an upsurge in violence, in particular last September and October, committed by armed elements.