31 August - 7 September 2015
Weekly Media Monitoring report for the Central African Republic
Posted on September 11, 2015
Contents
Compiled by Christina Murphy
- UPC kills two hostages in Ouaka
- Renewed fighting in Bambari
- New allegations of sexual abuse by French troops
1. UPC kills two hostages in Ouaka
“Deux morts attribués aux éléments de l’UPC dans la Ouaka.” Radio Ndeke Luka, 1 September 2015. In French.
- Two people were killed in Bambari, reportedly by members of the armed group Union for Peace in Central African Republic (UPC), led by Ali Ndaras.
- According to a local source, these two youths were part of a group of nine people taken hostage by UPC during the previous week. The two were killed just before MINUSCA peacekeeping forces freed the rest of the group.
- A spokesman for UPC denied the claims and said that these reports are attempts to discredit the group.
2. Renewed fighting in Bambari
“Une nouvelle altercation entre Séléka et Anti-Balaka signalée à Bambari.” Centrafrique Presse Info (CPI), 4 September 2015. In French.
- Fighting broke out between ex-Seleka and anti-balaka groups in the Kidigra neighborhood of Bambari on Friday 4 September.
- According to reports, this most recent round of fighting stemmed from the theft of a motorbike belonging to a Muslim youth in the Kidigra neighborhood.
- Tensions have been high in Bambari for several weeks as ex-Seleka and anti-balaka groups have fought sporadically, causing mass displacement of civilians and several deaths.
3. New allegations of sexual abuse by French troops
“Centrafrique: nouvelle accusation de viol contre un militaire français.” AFP, via Jeune Afrique, 3 September 2015. In French.
- The UN’s high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, announced on Thursday 3 September that MINUSCA forces had been informed of another case of sexual abuse committed by a member of the French Sangaris forces.
- This latest case reportedly occurred more than a year ago, and involved a teenage girl. No other information was given.
- France is already investigating several accusations of sexual abuse of children reaching back to December 2013. Members of the United Nations peacekeeping force MINUSCA have also been implicated in several cases rape and sexual abuse in CAR.