Central African Republic: UN experts condemn the actions of Russian militiamen

A member of the close protection unit of the President of the Central African Republic, Touadera, made up of agents from the Russian private security company Sewa Security, is seen in Berengo on August 4, 2018. FLORENT VERGNES / AFP

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2 min

It is a UN document that will not please Russia.

Obtained by RFI, this report, produced each year by United Nations experts working on the Central African Republic, condemns the actions of the Russian militiamen.

Along with the Central African army, they would have violated international humanitarian law, say experts, who have recorded the abuses committed by armed groups, but also by the police and the 500 to 2,000 " 

Russian instructors

 " , between September 2020 and May 2021.

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With our correspondent in New York

,

Carrie Nooten

These are 38 damning pages delivered by independent UN experts on the situation in the Central African Republic, particularly scrutinized around the headquarters of Bangui in December 2020. A testimony that contradicts the official version that Moscow likes to repeat from the Security Council in the Security Council. It confirms the violations of international humanitarian law, showing how

the Russian paramilitaries

have taken control of Bangui, and are stepping up assaults on civilians, NGOs, peacekeepers and UN personnel. Everything has already been denounced in the Council several times this month, but Russian diplomats deny outright.

This report also details the seizures of arms by the Russian militiamen, and multiple violations of the embargo.

Finally, the document largely grazes the Coalition of Patriots for Change, as well as former President Bozizé, who coordinates the armed groups of the CPC.

It exposes the strategy and the "false promises" of François Bozizé, as well as their consequences on the conflict.

Conclusion of the experts: they do not recommend lifting the arms embargo, repeatedly requested by Russia and China, by Bangui, or even by the mediator played by Angola, and which expires at the end of July.

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  • Central African Republic

  • UN

  • Russia