By Dan Krupinsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BANGUI, Central African Republic – The Central African Republic (CAR) remains in turmoil, months after rebels seized the capital Bangi and inserted themselves into power.

In the months since the Seleka rebel forces overtook the government, and Michael Djotodia named himself interim president, there have been accusations by Human Rights Watch and others of serious crimes, including summary executions and rape.

With reports of human rights violations remaining a common occurrence, a group of United Nations independent experts recently described the rule of law as “almost non-existent.”

“We are seriously concerned over reported acts of killings, torture, arbitrary detention, gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, ‘mob justice’ and the pervasive climate of insecurity and the absence of the rule of law which have prevailed in the country in the last five months,” the human rights experts said, calling for authorities to take steps to end to the human rights violations and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The International Federation for Human Rights estimates that the rebels have killed more than 400 people since taking power. Locals accuse the Selekas of murdering 15 people last month, after it was discovered that the mini-bus they were riding on contained t-shirts supportive of deposed president Francois Bozize.

Seven bodies, which showed signs of torture, were recovered from the Ubangi River.

Nicolas Tiangage, formerly a human rights lawyer and now inserted by the rebels as the Prime Minister to act as an emissary to the outside world, told The New York Times, “It’s anarchy, a non-state. Looting, arson, rape, massacres of the civilian population – they are sowing terrorism.”

The UN estimates that since December of 2012, 1.2 million people in the CAR have been cut off from what are described as “essential services,” with 37,000 people fleeing the country.

The international community, including Human Rights Watch and African civil society groups, have called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to monitor the ongoing abuses and for investigations of the alleged crimes.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in late April that the situation is “under close scrutiny,” and that she “will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible” for the violence, according to AllAfrica.com.

Calls for increased criminal prosecution comes amongst reports that only 16 arrest warrants had been issued (as of July), and for primarily minor offenses, providing evidence that the crimes are being committed in near impunity.

The estimated growth of the Seleka forces from 5,000 fighters initially to over 20,000 suggest that the violence will only continue to escalate.

For further information, please see:

All Africa — Group of UN Experts Raise Alarm Over Lawlessness in Central African Republic — 6 August 2013

All Africa — In Recent CAR Coup, Echoes of Past Violence — 6 August 2013

New York Times — Violent and Chaotic, Central African Republic Lurches Toward a Crisis — 6 August 2013

Voice of America — Rights Group: CAR Rebels Committing War Crimes — 18 July 2013

Reuters — Central African Republic in chaos, abandoned: MSF — 6 July 2013

By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BANGUI, Central African Republic — There is growing concern among human rights groups that crisis is about to erupt in the Central African Republic (CAR). The country has been increasingly unstable since Seleka rebels ousted president François Bozizé seized power March 24.  The violence began last December, in a country that has been mark with years of instability, when Seleka rebels launched a series of attacks across the country until a peace agreement was reached in January, only to be abandoned in March.

Rebels have been accused of  looting, raping, and killing indiscriminately since they took over the capital in March. Amnesty International accused the rebels of breaking into an orphanage and taking everything of value.  Residents accuse the rebels of killing 15 people last month because a minibus they were riding in also carried t-shirts in support of Bozizé. The International Federation for Human Rights have said Seleka rebels have killed more than 400 people since March.

The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court issued a statement on Wednesday voicing her deep concern for the security situation in the CAR.  “My office calls upon the international community to assist the Government of CAR in improving the security situation and in protecting civilians in Bangui and throughout the country,” Fatou  Bensouda said in her statement. She went on to note that a recent report by  the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) “seem to confirm that crimes that may fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court continue to be committed in CAR, including attacks against civilians, murder, rape, and recruitment of child soldiers.”

Ms. Bensouda’s statement came a day after a group of United Nations independent experts declared the rule of law “almost non-existent”in the CAR. “We are seriously concerned over reported acts of killings, torture, arbitrary detention, gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, ‘mob justice’ and the pervasive climate of insecurity and the absence of the rule of law which have prevailed in the country in the last five months,” the UN experts said.

“There have been a number of killings, sometimes in retaliation for incidents of ‘mob justice’ against members of the Séléka coalition. Some 46 cases are allegedly documented,” said Christof Heyns, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. “I call for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation of all suspected cases of arbitrary executions to identify and bring to justice those responsible.”

Both statements were made a week after UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic issued a statement outlining his fears about the mounting violence and lack of any civilian protections.  “Beyond Bangui, there is no police, no justice system and no social services. Security is virtually non-existent and people live in constant fear…I was particularly alarmed by the high number of Seleka members in the streets who do not receive any salary and set up check points, asking for money or just looting houses.” Simonovic stated.

Residents of the CAR told the New York Times (NYT) of the violence and looting that is being carried out by the Seleka rebels. “The feeling is one of terror: this is what haunts the population,” said Faustin Yandergo, a textile worker to the NYT.  “It’s anarchy, a nonstate,”  the prime minister, Nicolas Tiangaye told NYT “Looting, arson, rape, massacres of the civilian population — they are sowing terrorism.”

For further information, please see:

UN News Centre — ICC Prosecutor voices concern about ongoing serious crimes in Central African Republic — 7 August 2013

New York Times — Violent and Chaotic, Central African Republic Lurches Toward a Crisis — 6 August 2013

UN News Centre — Group of UN experts raise alarm over lawlessness in Central African Republic — 6 August 2013

Fox News — Central Africans living ‘in constant fear’: UN — 1 August 2013

Human Rights Watch — Central African Republic: Seleka Forces Kill Scores, Burn Villages — 27 June 2013

By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Two Kenyan hostages abducted by Somalia’s al-Shabab in January 2012 were released to their families on Thursday.

Yesse Mule and Fredrick Wainana were abducted from Gerille, Kenya by the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab group.  They were seized three months after Kenya troops entered Somalia to fight al-Shabab.  They were moved to 19 different locations while being chained and blindfolded throughout the captivity.

Mr. Mule and Mr. Wainan, both government officials, were captured during an attack by about 100 al-Shabab fighters on a police camp in Gerille, a town on the Kenya-Somalia border.

“It was one of the worst moments. You are not sure about your life. You don’t know what will happen in the next second or minute.”  Mr. Mule told BBC.

Mr. Mule was the Wajir County district officer and Mr. Wainana a government clerk.  “We will continue to support them, including counselling them to ensure they get back to their normal life,” Interior Secretary Joseph ole Lenku told Capital News. “Once all that is done, we will post them to work at a station of their choice.”

Efforts to bring the two men back earlier had failed.  The militia stood their ground, however, demanding Muslim prisoners in Kenya be released.

While the two men were brought from location to location, Mr. Mule told BBC that at each location “Every room within a house is a cell. You are blindfolded and chained.  Both hands are padlocked to your legs.”

Kidnapping is a tactic used by militants to make a point or to publicize their activities.  Victims have been held captive for months or even years.  Some victims never make it back alive.  Al-Shabab has taken numerous foreign hostages throughout the years.

Kenya did not pay the ransom for the two men’s release.  Instead, al-Shabab handed them over to a group of traditional elders who negotiated their release.

The two men state they are not afraid to return to their jobs; however, the government has given them the option to transfer to a different region.

For more information, please visit:

Latin Business Today — Two Kenyan hostages released by al-Shabab — 2 August 2013

Metro News — Two Kenyan hostages released by al-Shabab — 2 August 2013

BBC News — Somalia’s al-Shabab frees Kenya’s Mule and Wainana — 1 August 2013

All Africa — Kenya: Al-Shabaab Releases Two Kenyan Hostages — 31 July 2013

Capital News — Kenyan officials abducted by Shabaab in 2012 freed — 30 July 2013