April 20-26, 2015

1. Suspected CAR rebels kill 3, kidnap 7 in Cameroon raids

International Media

"Suspected Central African Republic rebels kill three in Cameroon raid."
Reuters, 25 April, 2015. In English.

• According to Cameroon state radio, a group of armed men crossed the CAR border and killed three women in Mbeng village. The group also kidnapped five people during the attack, as well as an additional two people the following day. 
• The identities of the armed men were not given, and the article does not note their affiliation. 

2. Ten villagers killed near Kaga Bandoro

Government-owned media

"Dix paysans assassinés dans une localité à 400 km de Bangui."
Centrafrique Presse Info (CPI), 21 April 2015. In French.

• Ten people were killed in four villages near Kaga Bandoro over the weekend, reportedly by armed Peuhl herders.
• The article notes that the Kaga Bandoro region has seen regular violence between the nomadic Peuhl communities and local farmers emerging from conflicts over grazing land and the destruction of crops. 

3. National Transitional Council adopts law to create Special Criminal Court

International Media

"New Special Criminal Court: A Key Step Toward Justice."
FIDH, 24 April 2015. In English.

• On 22 April the National Transitional Council in CAR adopted a law creating a new Special Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the recent conflict. The announcement was welcomed by international and Central African human rights organizations.
• The court will be a hybrid mechanism, comprising of both Central African and international judges, and will cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

RCA: polémique autour de la création de la Cour pénale spéciale."
RFI, 23 April 2015. In French.

• The National Transitional Council (CNT) passed a law authorizing the creation of a Special Criminal Court to combat impunity and prosecute serious crimes committed in the country.
• The article notes that, although the law passed by the CNT is largely similar to the one originally submitted by the government, the two versions do differ on the temporal jurisdiction of the court. The government's version gave the court the ability to judge crimes committed from 2012 onward, while the CNT's version goes back to 2003. The article notes that this may complicate the court's creation, particularly since an amnesty law was passed in 2008. 

4. Peuhl herders held captive by anti-balaka fighters

International Media

"Central African Republic: Muslims Held Captive, Raped."
Human Rights Watch, 22 April, 2015. In English.

• Human Rights Watch released a report claiming that at least 42 Peuhl herders, mainly women and girls, are being held captive by anti-balaka fighters in various towns in CAR. Many of the Peuhl women and girls interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported being kept as sex slaves.
• UN peacekeeping forces freed a group of Peuhls from captivity last week, and Human Rights Watch is urging them to act quickly to free more. 

5. Bangui Forum postponed until 4 May 2015

Government-owned Media

Zamane, Naim-Kaélin. "La présidence reporte la date du forum pour permettre la participation du président Dénis Sassou Nguesso."
Centrafrique Presse Info (CPI), 22 April 2015. In French.

• A representative of the transitional government announced via radio that the Bangui Forum would be postponed until 4 May in order to allow Dénis Sassou Nguesso, the president of Republic of Congo, to attend.
• The new dates of the forum will be 4 - 11 May 2015.

International Media

"Central African Republic's transitional government delays peace forum."
Reuters, 22 April, 2015. In English.

• CAR's transitional government postponed the Bangui Forum until 4 May 2015, reportedly so that Congo Republic president Denis Sassou Nguesso would be able to attend. Sassou Nguesso has been a key mediator in the conflict up to this point.
• The Bangui Forum was originally scheduled to begin on 27 April, with more than 650 representatives from armed groups, political parties, religious organizations and civil society expected to attend.