Central African Republic

Last Update: May. 19, 2009

Since mid-2005, more than 10,000 homes were burned and nearly 300,000 people have fled their homes in terror due to the increasing violence in the Central African Republic. Conflict between rebel groups from the marginalized north and the central government caused a widespread increase in the levels of banditry, looting, and widespread human rights violations. In response to rebel movements, the government of the Central African Republic launched a series of indiscriminate counterinsurgency offensives, terrorizing the civilian population of the country. The relative scale of the conflict and the chronic nature of the violence caused us to include the Central African Republic as an Area of Concern beginning in 2008. Currently we are engaged in efforts to raise the profile of this conflict among the general public.

According to the Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team in the Central African Republic, nearly one in four civilians in the country is affected by violence, with residents of the northern regions at particular risk. This includes killing, severe torture and forced displacement carried out by all armed groups in the country.

Security in the CAR improved throughout 2008; however there continue to be reports of atrocities committed against civilians by government forces and rebels as both groups appear able to violate human rights with impunity and indiscriminately attack civilians in a cycle of retributive violence. Zaraguina bandits also target civilians along the country's northern borders, killing and kidnapping for financial gain.

The signature of a comprehensive peace agreement in June of 2008 may be a step towards stability in the CAR, so long as all parties implement their obligations.

• Central African Republic Government troops. President François Bozizé uses both the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and his elite Presidential Guard to counter rebel insurgencies in the north. During counterinsurgency campaigns both forces have committed widespread crimes against humanity, including the destruction of over 10,000 homes since 2005. Human Rights Watch estimated that over 1 million people have been affected by violence instigated by government forces.

• Popular Army for the Restoration of Republic and Democracy (APRD). Made up former President Patassé's Presidential Guard, the APRD have resisted the government. The group only consists of 1,000 poorly equipped troops. Nonetheless the APRD indiscriminately attacks government troops and innocent, non-combatant civilians in the northwest of the country. The APRD also has a history of recruiting child soldiers.

• Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR). Largely composed of the predominantly-Muslim Gula ethnic group, as well as ex-libérateurs, former Bozizé supporters; the UFDR are better equipped than the APRD and are based in the northeast of the country. Rebelling against the government because of the region's historic marginalization, the UFDR is responsible for the recruitment of child soldiers, the summary execution of civilians and the death of civilians through indiscriminate gunfire..

• Zaraguinas or coupeurs de route (road bandits). Historically operating on the Central African Republic — Chad — Cameroon border, the zaraguinas have been terrorizing the inhabitants of the northern areas of the Central African Republic, looting villages and killing innocent people on the road.

Stories from the conflict

"At the base, they tied my arms behind my back and also my legs, arbatachar style. They cut me with razor blades on my arms. We were a total of eight youngsters who were detained, and they beat us for a long time. They beat us with their batons. The whole time they asked us questions: were we married, do we work, were we ever in the army, were we with the rebels? I kept saying no...we spent two days like this"

—"State of Anarchy: Rebellion and Abuses Against Civilians," Human Rights Watch, Sept. 2007