Forces in the Central African Republic, whom witnesses identified as Russian, appear to have summarily executed, tortured, and beaten civilians since 2019.
Central African Republic: Rebel Violence Threatens Elections
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Government, UN Should Protect Civilians; Advance Accountability
(Nairobi) – A new rebel coalition in the Central African Republic has created havoc in the run-up to the country’s legislative and presidential elections, scheduled for December 27, 2020, Human Rights Watch said today.
The new coalition is called the Coalition of Patriots for Change (Coalition des patriotes pour le changement, CPC). Over the past five years, the groups that make up the new coalition have committed war crimes, including deliberately killing civilians, raping women and girls, and deliberately destroying civilian property. At least five civilians have been killed in the last few days, causing thousands of others to flee for safety into the forests that surround the towns across the country.