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Police officer in the capital, Bangui
Photo: BARBARA DEBOUT / AFP
Civilians are said to have been killed and tortured by Russian mercenaries in the Central African Republic.
This is reported by the human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW).
You have "convincing evidence" for the offenses.
In a report released on Tuesday, HRW accused fighters "who have identified witnesses as Russians" of extrajudicial killings and torture, among other things.
The perpetrators remained “completely unpunished”.
HRW, citing research by governments, United Nations experts and special rapporteurs, believes that Russian forces in Central Africa include a "significant number" of Wagner group fighters.
They support the Central African government under President Faustin Archange Touadéra in the conflict with rebel groups.
The Russian mercenaries fighting in Central Africa are often attributed to the Wagner group.
The militia is described by experts as Russia's "shadow army" and has also been associated with operations in conflict countries such as Syria, Libya and, more recently, Ukraine.
According to HRW, on July 21 last year, Russian-speaking men arrested and later shot twelve unarmed men at a checkpoint near Bossangoa, northwest of the capital Bangui.
"Detentions and torture by fighters with connections to Russia" were also documented in 2019.
HRW calls for investigations into mercenaries
Regarding the allegations, an HRW representative said that the Central African government "of course has the right" to request international support on security issues.
However, it must not allow foreign fighters "to kill or abuse civilians with impunity."
To show respect for the rule of law, the Bangui government should "immediately launch criminal investigations into militants responsible for killings, wrongful arrests and torture."
The HRW report said the governments of Central Africa and Russia did not comment on the allegations when asked.
In April, UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet denounced "serious human rights violations" in Central Africa committed by rebel groups, the military and its Russian allies.
According to the UN, the Central African Republic is one of the least developed countries in the world.
A civil war broke out there as a result of a coup in 2013.
The conflict continues to this day, although it has weakened over the past three years.
The government still has large parts of the country out of control.
as /AFP
