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30 killed over two months in fighting in C.Africa diamond hub: UN
BANGUI, Central African Republic, Oct 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – At least 30
civilians were killed in August and September by armed groups in and around
Bria, the diamond hub of the restive Central African Republic, the UN said,
adding that some of the killings could constitute crimes against humanity.
The militias have been battling one another ever since the 2013 overthrow
of long-time leader Francois Bozize, a Christian, by majority-Muslim
coalition of militias called the Seleka.
Thousands of people have died, 700,000 have been internally displaced and
another 570,000 have fled abroad in fighting since then. The other main
militia is the Christian-dominated Antibalaka.
“These crimes, many of which could constitute war crimes and crimes against
humanity can be attributed to the former Seleka coalition … and the
Antibalaka,” said the UN statement seen by AFP on Tuesday.
In a report at the start of this month, Human Rights Watch blamed the FPRC
rebel group for killing on August 25 at least 11 civilians who fled Bria
after clashes between the FDRC and the Antibalaka.
Several rebel groups and militias are fighting in Bria, which is home to
some 100,000 people, for control over the diamond mines.
France, the former colonial power, intervened to remove the Seleka after
the 2013 unrest following Bozize’s ouster and the UN deployed a peacekeeping
mission, MINUSCA, in 2014.
The UN stabilization force in Central Africa has 11,000 troops and 2,000
police officers.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1738 hrs