CAR: Humanitarian group claims at least 45 civilians killed in Ouaka province

Event

On Tuesday, May 2, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on recent violence in the central Ouaka province. According to the report, at least 45 civilians have been killed in the past three months in targeted reprisal attacks by rival militias. An estimated 11,000 people have been displaced by the violence between the Muslim Seleka group Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) and the predominately Christian Popular Front for the Renaissance in the Central African Republic (FPRC). HRW has accused both groups of carrying out revenge killings in the region.

Context

Violence in Ouaka province has been escalating in recent months. The province lies on the border between the mainly Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south.

The majority Muslim ex-Seleka rebels and the Christian militia of the anti-balaka have clashed for almost three years, throwing the country into chaos. Although the February 2016 election of President Faustin Archange Touadéra marked the first stage of the post-crisis transition after years of sectarian conflict in the Central African Republic, the situation remains volatile throughout the country. While mass killings have ceased and the French Sangaris operation ended at the end of October 2016, various armed groups continue to operate in the country.

With more than 10,000 soldiers and policemen, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is tasked with maintaining order in CAR.

Advice

Many Western governments advise against travel to the country due to these and other security concerns. Travel should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.