“We are deeply concerned by reports of escalating violence driven by political grievances and hate speech, leading to the forced displacement of civilians, including to neighbouring countries,” Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, said in a statement on Wednesday.
The instability in the Central African Republic dates back decades, and violence has displaced hundreds of thousands in the country, which despite its vast natural mineral wealth is one of the poorest in the world.
Protection of civilians is paramount
With elections scheduled for Sunday 27 December approaching, Ms. Throssell said there were “numerous reports of attacks against security forces, political candidates and election officials.”
Clashes between armed groups and security forces have reportedly erupted across a wide area, including in neighbourhoods near the capital, Bangui.
“The UN Human Rights Office joins UN Secretary-General António Guterres in calling on all parties in the Central African Republic to put an end to the violence,” she said.
The spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reminded all parties, “including security forces and armed groups, as well as international and foreign forces,” that they “have an obligation to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law as appropriate.”
“The protection of civilians is paramount,” she explained.
For her part, the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic, Denise Brown, refuted unfounded rumours that armed groups were marching on the capital.
This came in an interview with UN News on Monday.
