The Central African Republic (CAR) has declared a state of emergency while the UN army and forces are trying to repel the advance of rebel groups that want to overthrow the government.
Anti-government fighters, who now control two-thirds of the country, surrounded the capital, Bangui.
The UN envoy to CAR warned that the country was “at serious risk”
The rebels contest the validity of President Faustin Archange Touadéra’s reelection in last month’s vote.
The authorities accused former President François Bozizé, who was prevented from running for election on December 27, due to the escalation of violence.
“The perpetrators … of these unforgettable crimes against the CAR people will be found, arrested and taken to the competent courts,” said President Touadéra on Monday, while calling for national reconciliation.
Bozizé, who came to power in 2003 before being ousted in 2013, denied the charges.
‘Children enduring the impact of the crisis’
At least 200,000 civilians have been directly affected by the fighting since December, and at least half the number remain homeless in their homes, said the UN children’s agency, Unicef.
“This new wave of violence and displacement is increasing humanitarian needs at a time when the Central African people are already dealing with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and years of conflict and insecurity,” said Fran Equiza, Unicef representative. In the CAR.
He said the children were bearing “the brunt of this crisis”.
“We ask all parties to ensure that civilians, especially children and women, are protected and kept out of harm’s way, in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law,” said Equiza.
Call for more UN peacekeepers
The state of emergency declared on Thursday night will last for 15 days, government spokesman Albert Yaloke Mokpeme said on national radio.
He said soldiers could be arrested without going through prosecutors.
The BBC’s Pacôme Pabandji in Bangui said many residents of the capital are not surprised by the state of emergency, given the deteriorating security situation in recent weeks.
According to security sources, the statement was a necessary step after information obtained from people arrested in recent days suggested that there was an imminent threat to the government.
CAR “is at serious risk of a setback in security and peace-building,” said Mankeur Ndiaye, the UN envoy to the country.
He urged the UN Security Council to increase the number of peacekeepers with a flexible mandate that allows them to respond to the country’s growing security challenges.
Mr. Ndiaye did not specify the security features he wants to be deployed, but the Reuters news agency, citing a source close to the UN mission, Minusca, said the CAR needed 3,000 extra soldiers, attack helicopters and even special forces.
According to Mr. Ndiaye, large numbers of government troops have deserted due to insufficient training and resources.
At least 12,000 peacekeepers are already on the ground in CAR.
Before the December elections, Rwanda and Russia sent reinforcements to help the government. France also sent military resources to support President Touadéra’s government.
Meanwhile, the government is pushing for the lifting of the UN arms embargo in 2013, which it sees as an obstacle in its fight against the rebels.