The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 15th Extraordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 7 to 14 March 2014:
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter);
Considering that one of the objectives of the African Union as stipulated in Article 3 (f) of its Constitutive Act is to “promote peace, security, and stability on the continent”;
Recalling the obligations of the Central African Republic under the African Charter and other regional and international human rights instruments;
Further recalling the road map adopted by the 4th Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) held in N’Djamena on 18 April 2013;
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res. 243 (EXT.OS/XIV) 2013 and its statements issued on 27 March 2013, 21 April 2013 and 24 July 2013 in which the Commission strongly condemned the looting and armed violence perpetrated against the Central African population and emphasized that “the perpetrators of these acts should be prosecuted by the competent courts”;
Welcoming the efforts made by the transitional Government of the Central African Republic to put an end to the ongoing crisis;
Appreciating the efforts of the African Union and the international community to increase the number of soldiers deployed in the Central African Republic, in particular the activities of MISCA with the support of the French Operation Sangaris;
Concerned by the continuing violence and abuses carried out by the anti-Balaka militia against the Muslim civilian population, the regrouping of ex-Seleka forces in the towns of Vakaga, Batangafo and Kaga-Bandoro in the north and the new cycle of violence they cause in villages;
Deeply concerned by the continuing insecurity resulting in the forced and massive displacement of the civilian population, of nearly one million people both within and outside the country, and others seeking refuge in neighbouring countries;
Welcoming the commitment of countries such as the Republic of Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Chad which have shown hospitality and solidarity with refugee populations from the Central African Republic;
The Commission:
Strongly condemns the killings called “cleansing operations” carried out by members of the anti-Balaka in the neighbourhoods of Miskine, Marinaka and Combattant, and in the 3rd, 5th and 8th districts of the capital Bangui, including murder, rape, looting and destruction of property;
Also condemns the atrocities committed by ex-Seleka rebels in the towns of Batangafo and Kaga-Bandoro in retaliation for the attacks against the Muslim civilian population by members of the anti-Balaka;
Calls on the transitional Government to take the necessary measures to stop all acts of violence against the civilian population throughout the national territory and to bring the perpetrators before the competent courts;
Urges the transitional Government to expedite the establishment of Government institutions and to reconstitute the police and security forces in order to ensure the security of persons and property;
Calls on the African Union and the international community to strengthen the peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic by increasing its human and material resources;
Calls on countries hosting refugee populations to take the necessary measures to ensure their security and humanitarian assistance despite the complexity of the task;
Further calls on States to work closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other international humanitarian organisations towards an effective protection, material assistance and management of refugee camps in order to meet the needs of refugee populations in their territories, paying special attention to women and children;
Reiterates its call for the mobilisation of adequate humanitarian support for the populations affected by the crisis;
Calls on the Government of the Central African Republic to take all necessary measures to allow and facilitate unfettered access for humanitarian assistance to reach internally displaced persons;
Further calls on the transitional Government to organise free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections and to ensure that all the parties, in particular opposition parties, enjoy equitable access to state-controlled media;
Decides to remain seized of the matter.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, on 14 March 2014
