Killings, robberies rampant in Central African Republic, UN says

19 Novembre 2013

Central Africa-CAR-Security

LIBREVILLE, November 19 (Infosplusgabon) –  The UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in CAR (BINUCA) said a spate of armed robberies and extrajudicial killings, including those of army soldiers and a senior magistrate, has taken over Bangui, capital of the conflict-torn Central African Republic (CAR), for more than a week.

In a statement Tuesday, BINUCA called on the transitional government to bring the perpetrators to justice.

It also called on the transitional authorities "to pursue and speed up the restoration of the capacities of the police and the gendarmerie and to exclusively entrust to them the mission of maintaining law and order in Bangui''.

BINUCA recalled that the security of persons and belongings are first and foremost the responsibility of the transitional government, saying among those killed was Modeste Martineau Bria, a senior magistrate who was assassinated last Saturday night.

Earlier this month, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned that the deteriorating violence in CAR could spin out of control, further destabilising the country.

She called the clashes between ex-Seleka forces and various self-defence groups "extremely worrying".

Plagued by decades of instability and fighting, the CAR witnessed a resumption of violence last December, when the Seleka rebel coalition launched a series of attacks, culminating in March when President Francois Bozize was forced to flee.

A transitional government, headed by Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye, has been entrusted with restoring law and order and paving the way for democratic elections.

But armed clashes in the north-east have increased since August, and the country is facing a dire humanitarian situation that affects some 4.6 million people.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/MIN/GABON 2013

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