PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – Human rights situation in the Central African Republic [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2023.

Interactive Dialogue on the oral update of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic. As delivered by the UK.

Thank you, Mr Vice President.

The United Kingdom remains concerned by the increasing disregard for human rights in CAR by all actors, including state actors, which MINUSCA’s most recent reporting suggests are responsible for violations including arbitrary arrests and detentions. We are particularly concerned by the ongoing presence of the Wagner Group and call for their immediate withdrawal from CAR. We reiterate our call for the Government to ensure that all State-aligned security actors comply with international humanitarian and human rights law and that all perpetrators of violations or abuses are held to account.

We are also concerned by President Touadera’s plans to overhaul CAR’s constitution, which risks undoing recent democratic gains. The referendum serves as a distraction from the main issues facing CAR, including the dire humanitarian, security and economic situation.

Mr Vice President, ensuring transparent democratic processes is crucial to CAR’s future stability. Local elections, which have been postponed in favour of the constitutional referendum, would have been an opportunity to bring democracy closer to communities and citizens, and would have formed part of the democratic restructuring that is integral to securing lasting peace in CAR. We hope that free, fair and peaceful local elections will be held as soon as possible.

Mr Agbetse,

Thank you for your update. Given the situation in CAR continues to deteriorate, how can the international community help ensure the long-term viability of the Peace Agreement and the effectiveness of existing accountability mechanisms in CAR?

Thank you.