Published on Wednesday, the latest report from UN experts on the Central African Republic is serious. It describes about forty pages on the human rights violations committed by the various parties to the conflict. He also points to what experts call the “security sector faction” … members of armed groups or militias recruited or instrumentalized by government members and security forces.
These groups are organized to work with or support state security institutions. Their elements received financial support, some of the military material was diverted from official stocks planned for the Armed Forces or the internal security forces. This is contrary to the embargo, the report specifies. Others were promised official integration into the army or internal security forces.
Matters are documented in the President’s watch
The presidential guard is not framed by the national defense plan and the recruitment of its members takes place discreetly in the president’s neighborhood, in his church as well as in his ethnic group, experts say. Known anti-balaka elements were also recruited. This is the case with Thierry Lébéné who served on orders from Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, now at the ICC. On his Facebook account, Lébéné alias “12Puissances” is dressed in the colors of the presidential guard.
Another documented device: “Sharks” …
This group was formed in June 2019 and was originally active on social networks that spread false information and threatened opposition members were disbanded in the summer of the same year. But at the end of 2020, the “sharks” will reappear on the ground this time … They consist of some of the members of the presidential guard and act as a “shadow force” responsible for “security operations”. Extra-judicial “entrusted to them by advisers to the Presidency. In this regard, the Director – General of the Presidential Guard General Service assured the panel that he was not aware that his elements were involved in such activities.
Recruitment of elements among PK5’s self-defense groups
Another element highlighted by the experts: recruitment of elements among PK5’s self-defense groups. These self-defense forces were long considered the number one enemy in Bangui and were recruited by the Interior Ministry as auxiliary forces in uniform. The most famous member of these recruits is General Nimery Matar Djamousmieux known as LT. A photo of him in gendarme costume along with elements identified as belonging to the Russian team of instructors by the expert panel had circulated on social networks at the time. Elements that are engaged in DDR processthus joined these fighters who fought especially against the uprising mainly on the Bangui-Boali-Bossembélé axis.
Finally, in the Vakaga and Grimari regions, the military or members of armed groups were urged to oppose the armed coalition. On the border with Sudan, for example, a coalition of armed youth was used to block the supply of weapons to CPC.
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