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Russian mercenaries accused of human rights abuses in Central African Republic
Source: The Guardian
Russian mercenaries accused of human rights abuses in CAR
UN group of experts deeply disturbed by connections between Wagner Group and violence since election
Luke Harding and Jason Burke
Tue 30 Mar 2021 19.56 BST
Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group, a private military contractor, have committed human rights abuses in the Central African Republic while fighting alongside government forces, according to a group of independent UN experts.
The UN working group said it was “deeply disturbed” by the connections between Russian mercenaries and a series of violent attacks that have taken place in the CAR since elections in December.
The country has been wracked by a renewed bout of civil war since an alliance of rebel factions launched an offensive. The elections were won by the incumbent president, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who was sworn in on Tuesday, but led to intensified fighting earlier this year as the rebels sought to blockade the capital, Bangui.
Touadéra’s army – Forces armées centralafricaines (Faca) – has military support from Russia and Rwanda. Wagner Group mercenaries assisted a successful government counter-offensive against the rebels in recent months.
According to the UN experts group, the Russian contractors work closely with the 15,000 strong UN peacekeeping mission that has been based in CAR since 2014. The United Nations multidimensional integrated stabilisation mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is tasked with protecting civilians and providing an environment to allow the country to build durable institutions.
-snip-
UN group of experts deeply disturbed by connections between Wagner Group and violence since election
Luke Harding and Jason Burke
Tue 30 Mar 2021 19.56 BST
Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group, a private military contractor, have committed human rights abuses in the Central African Republic while fighting alongside government forces, according to a group of independent UN experts.
The UN working group said it was “deeply disturbed” by the connections between Russian mercenaries and a series of violent attacks that have taken place in the CAR since elections in December.
The country has been wracked by a renewed bout of civil war since an alliance of rebel factions launched an offensive. The elections were won by the incumbent president, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who was sworn in on Tuesday, but led to intensified fighting earlier this year as the rebels sought to blockade the capital, Bangui.
Touadéra’s army – Forces armées centralafricaines (Faca) – has military support from Russia and Rwanda. Wagner Group mercenaries assisted a successful government counter-offensive against the rebels in recent months.
According to the UN experts group, the Russian contractors work closely with the 15,000 strong UN peacekeeping mission that has been based in CAR since 2014. The United Nations multidimensional integrated stabilisation mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is tasked with protecting civilians and providing an environment to allow the country to build durable institutions.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/30/russian-mercenaries-accused-of-human-rights-abuses-in-car-un-group-experts-wagner-group-violence-election
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