Following Coup, Violence in Central African Republic Escalates

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.

 

Seleka rebels patrol the streets in Bangui (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

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

Concern Mounts as Central African Republic Heads Towards Crisis

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.

Seleka rebel members stand guard in front of the presidential palace in Bangui. (Photo Courtesy of Alain Amontchi/Reuters)

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

 

Air Strike Kills Five Suspected Armed Fighters Killed in the Sinai Peninsula

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Witnesses have reported that an air strike in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt’s north-eastern region bordering Israel, has killed five suspected armed fighters. The attack also destroyed a rocket launcher near Israel’s Sinai border, the launcher may have been intended to launch rocket attacks into southern Israel. The air strike is believed to have been carried out by an Israeli drone.

Air strike kills five suspected militants in the Sinai Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

The attack occurred just one day after Israel briefly closed its airport in Eilat, a Red Sea resort close to the Sinai, in response to unnamed security warnings. In the past, Eilat has been targeted by rocket fire from the Sinai region.

The Israeli government has remained silent about the attack. However, Israeli officials have suggested that if Israel where involved in the attack, the state would be interested in remaining silent in order to avoid embarrassing the Egyptian military. The Jerusalem Post has reported that Israeli Defence Forces may have coordinated with the Egyptian military in order to conduct the attack. However, an Egyptian military official has denied Egypt’s involvement.

An Egyptian military spokesperson denied the report that the militants were killed in an Israeli airstrike and suggested that there may be another possible cause for the explosion. Egypt’s official news agency reported that explosion destroyed a rocket launcher set up near the Israeli border to launch attacks into Israel, and at least five Islamic militants were killed. But it did not elaborate on the cause of the explosion.

Uncertainty over the political future of Egypt has led to rising fears in Israel. The overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has raised fears in Israel that extremist militants could exploit anger over the coup felt by Islamists in the region, which could result in more attacks from the Sinai region. Tensions have risen between Israel and Egypt since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak. Over the past two years, Israel has increased surveillance along the Egyptian border and is currently building a 150-mile barrier along the frontier border in order to keep militants and African migrants out of Israel.

Despite rising tensions between Israel and Egypt, there is evidence that the two states are cooperating on anti- terrorism efforts. A former senior Israeli defence official said that the airport closure came after the Egypt government sent Israel a warning about a possible attack originating in the Sinai Peninsula. He cited this as a sign of greater corporation between the two states. “The cooperation is not new; the level of cooperation is new.” the former Israeli official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivity of Israel’s relations with Egypt.

For more information see:

Al Jazeera – Deadly Air Strike Reported in Sinai – 9 August 2013

Jerusalem Post – Report: IAF drone strikes Jihadist Rocket Launcher in Sinai, Killing 4 Terrorists – 9 August 2013

New York Times – Sinai Blasts Kill up to 5 Islamic Militants – 9 August 2013

Washington Post – Egyptian Officials: Israeli Drone Strike Kills 5 Islamic Militants in Sinai Peninsula – 9 August 2013

Yemen Claims to Foil al-Queda Terror Plot; U.S. Drones Strike

By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen – On Wednesday, Yemen authorities claimed they had foiled multiple al-Queda terrorist plots aimed at blowing up oil pipelines, seizing oil and gas export facilities, and taking over two of the country’s main ports.

Security has tightened across Yemen since the U.S. issued warnings of a heightened risk of an al-Queda terrorist plot in the area. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

Rajeh Badi, a press adviser to Yemeni Prime Minister Mohammed Salem Basindwa, said, “The plot aimed to seize the al-Dabbah oil export terminal in Hadramout [province] and the Belhaf gas export facility, as well as the city of Mukalla,” referring to the Hadramout provincial capital.

Badi discussed specifics of the plan, stating that dozens of al-Qaeda members planned to dress in Yemeni army uniforms and seize the facilities on the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan, which was last Sunday.

Yemeni security forces have increased their presence in the country to protect likely terrorist targets. Hundreds of armored vehicles have been positioned around the capital city of Sana’a with tanks and troops surrounding foreign missions, government buildings, and the airport.

Since reports of the foiled terror-plots surfaced, U.S. drones have killed eight suspected militants over the past two days. Six were killed by a drone strike in the country’s southern province of Shabwa and two more in an attack in the eastern province of Hadramout. At least twenty-five suspected militants have been killed by U.S. drone attacks since July 28, but only one of the dead has been confirmed to be on Yemen’s twenty-five most-wanted terrorist list.

Despite the alleged foiled terror-plots, U.S. officials reiterated broad warnings of an increased risk of terrorist attacks in Yemen and the surrounding area. Yemen’s state news agency later cited government security officials that downplayed the alleged foiled plot and denied there had been a threat against oil facilities.

Recently, there have been complaints by U.S. officials that the Yemeni government is not doing enough to disrupt and eradicate Al-Queda in the Arabian Peninsula, otherwise known as AQAP. AQAP, believed to be behind the current terror warnings across the area, is considered to be one the most aggressive and well-organized al-Queda subdivisions.

For further information, please see:

Reuters – Drone strikes kill eight suspected militants in Yemen – 8 August 2013

Al Jazeera – Yemen: Plot to seize oil facilities foiled – 7 August 2013

BBC – Yemeni authorities ‘foil al-Queda plot to seize ports’ – 7 August 2013

New York Times – Yemen, on Alert for Terrorism, Says It Foiled a Queda Plot  – 7 August 2013

Wall Street Journal – Yemen Steps Back From Terror-Plot Claims, Highlighting U.S.’s Challenge – 7 August 2013

Obama Cancels Bi-Lateral Agenda Meeting with Russia

by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – Following Russia’s decision to grant asylum to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, President Obama announced that he will not be meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladamir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in St. Petersburg. The meeting, which aimed to set the two countries’ bi-lateral agenda, was set to take place in Moscow on the heels of the G20 summit.

President Obama remarked that he was “disappointed” with Russia’s decision to grant Snowden asylum instead of sending him home to face espionage charges. (Photo courtesy of TIME)

A White House statement cited “not enough recent progress in our bi-lateral agenda” as the reason for canceling the meeting. Gowever, the timing of the cancellation has led many news outlets to speculate that President Obama was “snubbing” Prime Minister Putin.

The Russian government’s reaction to this “snub” has been understated, with most domestic news outlets simply reporting that President Obama is coming to the G20 summit in St. Petersburg while not focusing on the now cancelled meeting in Moscow.

Foreign relations analysts predict that Obama’s “snub” could hurt US foreign efforts in China, Europe, and the Middle East, where Russia is a key player. Russia could be “a huge spoiler and also a major help [in these areas]” remarked Ariel Cohen, an expert on Russia from the Heritage Foundation.

Following President Obama’s announcement, Lon Snowden, father of Edward Snowden, had a lengthy interview with Reuters in which he reportedly said that Putin will not “cave” to political pressure from the United States. Snowden was more eager to remind Americans that the true story, the NSA mass surveillance program, was being obscured by the story of his son.

The fight isn’t in Russia,” Snowden observed. “The fight is right here. The fight is about these programs that undermine, infringe upon, violate our constitutional rights.”

Snowden has not seen his son since the former NSA contractor left the US, however, he plans to make a visit to Russia within the month.

 

For more information, please see:

TIME – How Obama’s Putin Snub Is Playing Out in Russia – 8 August 2012

Reuters – Putin will not ‘cave’ to Obama pressure: Snowden’s father – 7 August 2012

The Guardian – Edward Snowden: Obama criticises Russia for granting asylum – 7 August 2012

The Guardian – Obama cancels meeting with Putin over Snowden asylum tensions – 7 August 2012

USA Today – Obama snub won’t matter to Russia, analysts say – 7 August 2012