As Sudan hosts CAR peace talks, Russia offers to get more involved

As Sudan hosts CAR peace talks, Russia offers to get more involved
The three top faith leaders of the Central African Republic (CAR), who have won international recognition for efforts to end its conflict, have pledged to work with Russians to foster reconciliation in CAR. On 23 August, they attended a one-day meeting organised by Valery Zakharov, a Russian diplomat and security . . . Read More

Dozens killed in CAR, including priest who planned to move

Dozens killed in CAR, including priest who planned to move
Dozens, including a Catholic priest, were killed last week as fighting erupted between armed groups in several villages in southern Central African Republic. Father Joseph Désiré Angbabata, 49, the parish priest of Séko village, near Bambari, lost his life when armed men stormed his village parish of Saint Charles LWANGA . . . Read More

UN denies complicity in Central African Republic massacres, but questions remain

UN denies complicity in Central African Republic massacres, but questions remain
The UN has rejected allegations of complicity with armed groups in a string of massacres last year in the Central African Republic. A UN Special Investigation team, led by Brigadier General (rtd) Fernand Amoussou and including legal, political and human-rights experts, looked into attacks between 1 May and 31 August . . . Read More

Catholic priest stabbed as violence continues in Central African Republic

Catholic priest stabbed as violence continues in Central African Republic
Catholic bishops in the Central African Republic have condemned a recent upsurge of violence in the country and called on armed groups to lay down their weapons. Fighting between rival armed groups erupted in the north-western town of Paoua and its surroundings at the end of December, while in the . . . Read More

Central African Republic IDPs angry at UN failure to protect them

Central African Republic IDPs angry at UN failure to protect them
When armed men attacked the north-western town of Bocaranga in the Central African Republic in September, thousands fled, including women and children. Madeleine, nine, was among them. She didn’t think of taking a toy; instead, she strapped her 15-month-old baby sister Cesare on her back and ran. With others, she . . . Read More

UN chief visits CAR, where lack of aid is leading to starving children

UN chief visits CAR, where lack of aid is leading to starving children
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in the Central African Republic (CAR) to draw attention to the world’s “forgotten crisis” and its heavy toll on aid workers and UN peacekeepers. The visit is happening a week after the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the country told media that the deteriorating security situation . . . Read More

UN troops ‘complicit’ in killing of civilians, says MP for Gambo, eastern C. African Republic

UN troops ‘complicit’ in killing of civilians, says MP for Gambo, eastern C. African Republic
A local MP has accused UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) of “complicity” in an attack which claimed dozens of lives, including ten Red Cross workers, in the eastern town of Gambo recently, World Watch Monitor has learned. The MP for Gambo, Michel Kpingo, in a statement (7 August) . . . Read More

Six Red Cross workers among dozens killed in C. African Republic

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This week the UN warned of the risk of genocide once again in the Central African Republic, saying the situation has deteriorated in recent months. Last week, dozens lost their lives in clashes between armed groups in the south-eastern town of Gambo, about 75km from Bangassou, where recent violence has . . . Read More

Central African Republic: ‘early warning signs of genocide’ warns UN aid chief

Central African Republic: ‘early warning signs of genocide’ warns UN aid chief
The UN has warned of the risk of genocide in the Central African Republic (CAR), saying the situation there has deteriorated in recent months. “Violence is intensifying, risking a repeat of the devastating destructive crisis that gripped the country four years ago… The early warning signs of a genocide are . . . Read More

Bishop in C. African Republic wants more effective UN peacekeepers after ‘failure to protect’

Bishop of Bangassou, (CAR), Juan José Aguirre Munoz (World Watch Monitor)
A bishop prevented by escalating violence from returning to his Central African Republic diocese has called for UN peacekeepers there to be replaced with a more effective defence force. Bishop Juan José Aguirre Munoz of Bangassou, who was speaking from the CAR capital, Bangui, also said the Moroccan troops are . . . Read More