In the Central African Republic, Russian paramilitaries again accused of abuses against civilians.
In a report published on Tuesday, May 3, Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims to have "convincing evidence" showing that militiamen supporting the power in the Central African Republic have committed "serious abuses", including murder and torture, "with complete impunity". since 2019.
This country, one of the poorest in the world, has been the scene, since 2013, of a very deadly civil war at the start, but which has considerably decreased in intensity since 2018. President Faustin Archange Touadéra, however, called, at the end 2020, Moscow to the rescue of a weak and helpless army to repel a rebel offensive that threatened Bangui and the regime.
Hundreds of Russian paramilitaries - "mercenaries" from the private security company Wagner according to the UN and from Western capitals - have been sent to reinforce hundreds of others who have already supported the regime since 2018.
Thanks to them, armed groups, rebels or simple predators, have been repelled from a majority of two-thirds of the territory they still occupied in 2020.
But the UN, the European Union and countries, such as France in particular, accuse Wagner's "mercenaries" of committing crimes and abuses against civilians, and the power of Archange Touadéra of letting them plunder the country's resources. in exchange for their military support.
“Compelling evidence shows that forces identified as Russian supporting the Central African government have committed serious abuses against civilians with total impunity,” summarizes Ida Sawyer, director of the Crisis and Conflict Division at HRW, in conclusion of a 13-page report based in particular on the testimonies of dozens of victims, relatives and witnesses.
"Arbitrary detentions, torture and executions"
"Forces identified by witnesses as being Russian appear to have summarily executed, tortured and beaten civilians since 2019," HRW said.
"The Central African government has the right to request international security assistance, but it cannot allow foreign forces to kill and mistreat civilians with impunity," accuses Ida Sawyer.
The report clearly establishes a link - based on "evidence" put forward by Western governments and UN experts - between these "Russian forces" and Wagner, who according to him has "clear links with the Russian government ".
HRW details in particular the execution by "Russian-speaking men" of 12 "unarmed" men arrested at a roadblock, "beaten" and then "shot" by a bullet in the head on July 21, 2021 near Bossangoa, 300 km northwest of Bangui.
The report also mentions alleged "arbitrary detentions, torture and extra-judicial executions" in Alindao (center) in June 2021, on "men arrested at random in the street".
Asked by HRW on the accusations of the report, neither the Central African government nor the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs took action, according to the NGO.
Moscow consistently claims that Russian paramilitaries are "unarmed military instructors" responsible for training Central African soldiers.
With AFP
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