Statement by FIACAT and ACAT RCA on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic
Item 10 - Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic
42nd session of the Human Rights Council
Thank you, Mr. President,
Madam Independent Expert,
FIACAT and ACAT RCA thank you for your report and share the concerns you have raised in it.
FIACAT and ACAT RCA would particularly like to address certain concerns relating to the implementation of the peace agreement signed in Bangui on 6 February 2019.
This agreement provides, first of all, that armed groups undertake to put an immediate, complete and irrevocable end to all hostilities and forms of violence and inhuman and degrading treatment.
However, acts of violence and human rights violations continue to be reported across the country. For example, on 22 May 2019, an attack was carried out in the villages of Koundjili and Lemouna in the Paoua sub-prefecture of Ouham Pendé prefecture by fighters from the former seleka armed group Retour, réclamation et réhabilitation (3R) of Sidiki Abas which resulted in the deaths of 33 people.
On the other hand, with regard to the fight against impunity, while the agreement recognises the role that impunity has played in maintaining the cycle of violence and does not expressly mention amnesty, FIACAT and ACAT RCA fear that impunity will continue, particularly as a result of the appointment of several rebel commanders responsible for abuses and human rights violations to high-level government posts.
Finally, while the agreement also provided for accelerating the process of establishing the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC) so that it could begin its work 90 days after the agreement was signed, the Commission is still not in place. Moreover, although a consultation has been initiated, FIACAT and ACAT RCA regret that some credible civil society actors are excluded from the consultation process.
FIACAT and ACAT CAR therefore call on the Central African authorities to continue and intensify their efforts to ensure the full implementation of the agreement of 6 February 2019.
Convinced of the need to continue extensive monitoring of the human rights situation in the Central African Republic, they invite the Member States of the Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.
Thank you very much.
