YouSaid · the spoken record

Dieng

lines on the record: 96
first: 2014-01-22
most recent: 2018-09-12
sittings or episodes: 7
sources: un-security-council

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“And because it is a process and one that takes time to prepare, it can be prevented. The political leadership of South Sudan has the primary responsibility of protecting its population and must be held to that responsibility. Action can and must be taken now to address some of the factors that could provide fertile ground for genocide. My intention in delivering this briefing is to provide impetus for preventive action. We have a collective responsibility to protect the population of South Sudan from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Bearing that in mind, it is highly desirable that the Security Council consider the following options which, if implemented, could reduce the risk of atrocity crimes.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“I was also informed by a number of people that the South Sudanese diaspora has been playing an influential, negative, role in spreading hatred and inciting violence. There is a range of different perpetrators and Victims, which makes an assessment of the risk of atrocity crimes in South Sudan more complex. But the warning signs are there. Throughout my visit, conversations with all actors confirmed that what began as a political conflict has transformed into what could become an outright ethnic war. With the stalling of the implementation of the peace agreement; the current, worsening, humanitarian crisis; a stagnating economy and the proliferation of arms, all of the ingredients exist for a dangerous escalation of violence. There is both motivation and the means. I must emphasize that genocide is a process; it does not happen overnight.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Despite the challenges it faces, the United Nations system has been monitoring signs ofincreased conflict potential in other areas of Central Equatoria, as well as in Western and Eastern Equatoria, Western Bahr el-Ghazal, Upper Nile, Unity, and Jonglei. However, there is much that we do not know. The media, including social media, are being used to spread hatred and encourage ethnic polarization, and letters threatening particular ethnic groups, telling them to leave, face violence or be eliminated from specific areas, have surfaced in the past month. I am particularly worried by the involvement of the youth, who make up a large percentage of the population and who are particularly susceptible to divisions within society.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Recent reports detail the expulsion of farmers from their land into the city of Yei. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that 100,000 people were trapped in Yei at the end of September. Many farmers have lost their homes and belongings, livestock and land. Property has been looted and villages have been burned. I heard reports of targeted killings, assault, maiming, mutilation, rape, and the barbarous use of machetes to hack families to death. When I Visited, there was widespread fear among the people. One person told me in desperation, "Tonight I don't know what will happen to me". An elder expressed terror that his community would be finished. And Yei is just one location among many that are experiencing that kind of violence.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Inflammatory rhetoric, stereotyping and name-calling have been accompanied by threats, targeted killings and rape of members of particular ethnic groups, and by violent attacks against individuals or communities on the basis of their perceived political affiliation. Especially worrying was a statement issued by President Kiir on 19 October, in which he said he would personally lead military operations against the armed groups responsible for killings in the Equatorias. I visited Yei River State, and I was shocked by what I found. Yei had previously been spared the violence seen elsewhere but did suffer the consequences of the violence in July, when the SPLA pursued Rick Machar and his supporters through the Equatorias into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Instead of the development of a South Sudanese national identity, we are seeing the extreme polarization of some ethnic groups, which has increased in certain places since the outbreak of violence in July and the disintegration of the peace process. Some groups shared with me their feelings of betrayal, and a perception that the SPLA is increasingly ethnically homogenous, composed mostly of Dinka members, and has been ethnicized as part ofa wider plan to launch systematic attacks against ethnic Nuer and multiple tribal groups which make up the Equatorias. At the same time, there were a number of incidents last month that specifically targeted Dinkas.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“There is a serious, protracted humanitarian crisis and widespread, prolonged displacement ofpopulations, both internally and to neighbouring countries. In some cases, displacement has caused the disruption of agricultural activities and food insecurity. Despite that crisis, the Government and non-State armed groups continue to hinder access to the humanitarian and human rights community. While aid agencies continue to deliver assistance to people in need across the country, at times there is outright obstruction of the delivery of services and support to people in need. The scarcity of resources has contributed to divisions within society.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Many people with whom I spoke referred to an amorphous and undisciplined army formed out of what had once been two opposing forces. They have now splintered into multiple armed groups, criminal gangs and bandits, over which the Government is failing to exercise control. Some of the groups are formed along ethnic lines and are pursuing their own objectives. In speaking to people, I heard of tremendous mistrust between the civilian population and the military. The people no longer seem to view the military as their protectors but rather as an entity to be feared - orjoined as one of the country's few potential employers. One elder I met summed up the current ethnic polarization, saying that he could see fear in the eyes of some and enthusiasm in the eyes of others.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Reports from the field indicate the existence of constant security incidents and the arming, recruitment and training of both the SPLA and SPLA-IO. As the Security Council has noted, we have seen patterns of human-rights violations and abuses committed mainly by SPLA soldiers, police officers and members of the National Security Service, as well as by SPLA-IO and militia groups. Those Violations have not been addressed. There is widespread impunity and lack of accountability for violations, including those committed in the name of counter-insurgency. Civil society organizations have been directly targeted, as have human-rights defenders and journalists. Some have been killed, and many others have fled the country out of fear for their safety.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“First, in addition to the loss of life and trauma, the Violence has an ever-increasing economic cost, both domestically and internationally. It is causing a drain on much-needed resources for development and humanitarian assistance. The Government is reportedly spending half of the national budget on security. There will be neither growth nor development in South Sudan if that continues. The economy has stagnated, inflation is very high and the population is increasingly desperate. The political and security crisis that resulted from the violence in July was fresh in the minds of those with whom I spoke, and many referred to the potential for a further deterioration of the security situation in the coming dry season, when movement around the country will be easier.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Special Representative Laj for the excellent support provided by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for my visit, and to express my appreciation to the Transitional Government of National Unity for facilitating the visit and for its cooperation while I was there. That said, however, as I reported last week, I was dismayed that what I saw and heard in South Sudan confirmed my concerns about the fact that there is a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide. I do not say that lightly. As the Secretary-General highlights in his report (S/2016/950), there are myriad underlying risk factors that in my assessment provide an environment ripe for the commission of mass atrocities.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“In the course of the week, I met with a variety of stakeholders, including religious leaders and community members. I also Visited a protection-of-civilians site in Juba and travelled to the town of Yei in Yei River state to meet with members of the community and Government. Yei, which until recently had been spared the violence seen in other areas, has now been identified as a conflict hotspot, with escalating Violence against multiple tribal groups in Yei and the State of Central Equatoria ofwhich Yei River is a part. The perpetrators of the Violence are varied and reportedly include the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), unidentified armed groups, militias and bandits.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“Mr. Dieng: I would first like to thank you, Mr. President, for inviting me to brief the Security Council on my Visit to South Sudan last week. As the Council may know, I decided to go because of growing concern about recent developments there, including reports of Violence targeting multiple ethnic groups that is taking place against the background of a breakdown in the political process and stalled implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. The purpose of my visit was to assess the situation from the perspective of my mandate in order to better understand the landscape of ethnically fuelled violence, including hate speech and incitement to violence, and the risk that it could lead to further atrocity crimes, including genocide.”
2016-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7814 (2016) · source
“My Office and other experts and institutions have stressed that without unity in the Council on the situation in Burundi, and the action that must be taken to reverse the current crisis, Burundi may slide back into a chaos with which we are all too familiar. Given the clear information we have about the gravity of the situation, we will not be able to claim, if a full-scale conflict erupts, that we did not know. The international community has a responsibility to protect Burundians and to prevent the commission of atrocity crimes.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“Beyond the possible human toll, a return to conflict would put the Arusha Agreement at risk and have destabilizing consequences for the entire region. We should act before it is too late. The United Nations has invested heavily in Burundi and cannot fail to take appropriate action now. I urge the Security Council to send a clear and united message to the Government in Bujumbura that it has an obligation to sit down with the opposition to address their differences peacefully. The Council should also call on all actors to renounce the use of violence. Only a sincere and constructive dialogue can avert the impending catastrophe in Burundi. I should also invite the Council to urge the Government to bring to justice all perpetrators of human rights violations and crimes being committed.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“Such measures could include the immediate establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the ongoing violations, as recommended by the African Union. It is also important to remind Burundi that, as a State party to the International Criminal Court, those inciting or engaging in atrocity crimes will risk criminal prosecution. Burundi is at a crossroads, and the international community needs to wake up to this reality. No one should underestimate what is at stake. The civil war between 1993 and 2005 cost over 300,000 lives and displaced more than 1 million people in Burundi. The country's history and that of its neighbour Rwanda have shown the tragic consequences of failing to act when leaders incite or fail to contain violence.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“The deployment of African Union human rights monitors could be a key deterrent against human rights violations and abuses. The Council could urge the Government of Burundi to finalize negotiations with the African Union on the presence of these monitors, so that they can be deployed, have unrestricted access and carry out their mandate without hindrance. Another essential factor that would contribute to preventing the situation from escalating further is the taking of measures that could act as a deterrent by putting in place measures to hold accountable those who may commit acts of violence and incite violence. The persistent accountability gap and prevailing impunity for ongoing serious human rights violations and abuses, including discourse that constitutes incitement to violence, is fuelling the crisis in Burundi.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“In its October communique, the African Union's Peace and Security Council expressed its determination to impose sanctions against those perpetrating violence, called for the deployment of additional human rights monitors, including by the African Union Commission, to investigate the ongoing violations, and requested the African Union Commission to develop contingency planning for the potential deployment of a peacekeeping mission to protect civilians. This strong commitment must be followed through with action and supported by the international community. To deter further violence, the Security Council should take urgent measures to prevent the situation from escalating, including by providing full support to the immediate implementation of the decisions of the African Union Peace and Security Council.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“To do so is both dangerous and irresponsible, and it is prohibited under international law. If there was ever a time for President Nkurunziza and his Government to display responsible and courageous leadership, it is now. For the sake of all Burundians, we need the Government to commit to restoring peace and security through dialogue and to take a series of concrete steps to de-escalate the current crisis. At the same time, this responsibility does not lie with Burundi's Government alone; the international community, in particular the East African Community, the African Union and the United Nations have an indispensable role to play in restoring peace to Burundi.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“I was alarmed by the speech given on 29 October by Reverien Ndikuriyo, the President of the Senate, in which he used inflammatory and threatening language. Some ofthe language used was very similar to that used before and during the genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu moderates and others were killed, in particular the repeated use of the word gukora, which means "to work" in Kirundi and was used to incite people to commit genocide in Rwanda in 1994. This speech adds to the fear that ruling-party officials may be preparing the ground for widespread violence in Burundi. It is therefore critical that the President and the senior leadership refrain from making or uttering any statement that could be considered as inciting populations to commit crimes against their fellow citizens.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“The ongoing efforts to promote dialogue have not succeeded in bringing the Government and the opposition to common ground. The violence and human rights violations reported during the recent period include the assassination of senior members of the security forces and high-profile individuals affiliated with both the ruling party and the opposition, as well as targeted killings of ordinary civilians. We are also witnessing the continued militarization ofopposition political parties and actors, both inside and outside Burundi. Those supporting the opposition have carried out targeted killings across the country. The violence has escalated tensions and further destabilized the country. My Office has received reports of civilians fleeing from areas perceived to be sympathetic to the opposition for fear of attacks.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“Mr. Dieng: I thank the President of the Security Council, Mr. Matthew Rycroft, for convening this meeting and for extending an invitation to me to brief members on the situation in Burundi from the perspective of my mandate. I last briefed the Council on the situation in Burundi last May, following my visit to Burundi. I observed then that, although the crisis in Burundi was primarily political in nature, some senior Burundian leaders were manipulating the issue of ethnicity to advance their political interests. I warned that, ifthey continued to do so, the result could be an increase in violence in which individuals could be targeted based on their political or ethnic affiliation. Unfortunately, that is what has happened. The country appears to be on the verge of descending into violence that could escalate to atrocity crimes.”
2015-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7553 (2015) · source
“We must uphold our collective responsibility to protect the populations of South Sudan from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and their incitement. Ethnicity must not be used as an excuse to incite violence or to demonize, exclude or attack any community or section of the population in South Sudan.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“In addition to the seeming disregard for the condition of the population, authorities have turned a blind eye to corruption. That corruption has also created a clear motivation for others to take up arms so that they can also access national resources for personal gain. Today's violence in South Sudan is not motivated by the desire to change the country, but rather by self-interested goals related to accessing oil wealth and development resources. The international community must not be complicit in this agenda. The prevention of further violence therefore requires a coordinated international response that includes a new posture by development partners. Any resolution should take this into account.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“If the parties do not clearly demonstrate their will and intention to end the violence and attacks against civilians, including incitement to commit violence, I believe the Council should consider taking additional measures against the parties to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. We should all support efforts aimed at holding accountable those responsible for serious violations. The findings and recommendations of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which is about to be released, and other human rights reports must be acted on, including, first and foremost, by the national authorities. Finally, the issue of weaknesses in governance must be addressed by development partners.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“To conclude, we must continue to follow the situation in South Sudan closely, take whatever measures are most appropriate to protect the population from further suffering and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. The risk that it could do so is clearly high, based on the risk factors that I have highlighted today. UNMISS has saved lives by opening its gates to protect the population in Bentiu, Bor, Malakal and other places. The Mission is under stress, however, and troop- contributing countries should expedite the deployment of additional troops as part of the UNMISS force surge to enhance its capacity to protect the population.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“In our meeting with the members of the African Union commission of inquiry on South Sudan, I reiterated the expectations of the international community that the work of the commission would be independent, thorough and credible, and stressed that they should ensure that the commission not only seeks to pursue measures for reconciliation and national healing but also places emphasis on accountability measures. The members of the African Union commission of inquiry requested technical assistance from the United Nations, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We should do all we can to support their work. I was encouraged to note, from my discussions with IGAD, that the IGAD mediation envoys believe that accountability should be part and parcel of any agreement reached to end the fighting.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“We have learned this the hard way from events in other places, including the genocide of the Tutsis that took place 20 years ago in Rwanda. To the survivors of the genocide, we owe a pledge to take all possible measures within our power to protect populations from another Rwanda. There is no excuse for inaction. In this regard, I welcome the mediation efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the role of the African Union's commission of inquiry on South Sudan, which aim to end the violence and to bring justice to the victims. Both President Kiir and Riek Machar informed us that they were investigating any serious violations committed by their respective forces and that those found responsible would be held accountable. We should hold them to that commitment.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“The perception that those supporting Riek Machar are predominantly ethnic Nuer and those supporting President Kiir are predominantly Dinka has heightened the risk that individuals could be systematically targeted on the basis of ethnicity. That polarization is further compounded by reports of exclusion and discrimination on the basis of ethnicity. For example, in Bor the internally displaced persons reported to us that they had been denied access to medical care by Government officials because they were Nuer. The culture of impunity in South Sudan has contributed immensely to the current crisis. As we search for peace in that young nation, we must also ensure that those responsible for crimes committed there are held to account. There can be no peace without justice. The current culture of impunity will only undermine our efforts.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“A11 leaders in South Sudan must assume greater responsibility to ensure that those under their authority do not commit serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. They should send strong messages to call for the unity and respect of all South Sudanese and take immediate measures to end the violence. I am glad that, in our meetings this week, both President Salva Kiir and Mr. Riek Machar affirmed their will to do so. I hope that they will now take concrete steps to act on their commitments. Reports of the homogenization of security forces by both camps are worrying as we consider the risk of atrocity crimes.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“That is totally unacceptable. In our consultations with senior Government officials in Juba and with Mr. Machar, we noted with concern that both sides either denied attacks against civilians or justified them on the grounds that they were carried out in self-defence against a vengeful group. If we are to ensure the protection of the civilian population in the country, the State must acknowledge that it has the primary responsibility to protect all South Sudanese, irrespective of nationality, ethnicity or political affiliation, and prioritize that responsibility. Blaming one group or another is simply irresponsible and dangerous. UNMISS is doing its best in very difficult circumstances and should be commended.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“They said that they knew some of the perpetrators and that they did not feel safe in Bor, where they risked being targeted simply because they were Nuer. The UNMISS commander in Bor corroborated the statements of the internally displaced persons and informed us that the recent attack was well organized and that the attackers included individuals in uniforms of the army of South Sudan, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Another cause for serious concern has been the reported use of radio in some areas to spread messages constituting incitement to violence against all those perceived to support the Government. It was reported that, in Bentiu, fighters allied with Mr. Riek Machar incited the civilian population to attack the Dinka, even encouraging their supporters to commit acts of sexual violence against women.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“According to United Nations reports, the attackers separated ethnic Dinka from ethnic Nuer civilians and then executed the Dinka and others perceived to support the Government. In Bor, armed elements reportedly affiliated with the Government forced entry into the UNMISS camp, in which displaced persons had been sheltering. They killed more than 50 civilians, mostly of Nuer ethnicity, and wounded around 100 others. That attack was allegedly carried out in revenge for the capture of Bentiu town by opposition forces. In our meeting with the internally displaced persons in Bor, they expressed fear that the attacks could recur at any time and pleaded with the United Nations to relocate them to somewhere safer, preferably Akobo.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“The violence that broke out on 15 December 2013, following a power struggle within the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement between former Vice-President Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir, has quickly degenerated into ethnic violence. The recent brutal attacks in Bentiu, in Unity state, and Bor, in Jonglei state, seem to have changed the trajectory ofthe conflict, and if such attacks are not immediately halted they could plunge the country into serious violence that could spiral out of control. In the current situation, we see elements that we could categorize as risk factors for genocide and other atrocity crimes. In Bentiu, more than 200 civilians of Dinka ethnicity were massacred and more than 400 others wounded, reportedly by opposition forces allied to former Vice-President Riek Machar.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“Mr. Dieng: First, I would like to thank the President ofthe Security Council, Ambassador Oh Joon, and other Council members for inviting me to brief this meeting. The Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, asked the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, and I to travel to South Sudan this week to follow up on the recent brutal attacks against civilians that took place in the northern town of Bentiu, including in places of worship and hospitals, and within a United Nations base where internally displaced persons were sheltering, in Bor. We are very grateful to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hilde Johnson and the staff of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for the support they provided to our very brief but intense mission. I will restrict my remarks to elements that are relevant to my mandate.”
2014-05-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7168 (2014) · source
“It is very important that we support all initiatives, including the Commission of Inquiry, to identify perpetrators and hold those responsible for violations and abuses accountable. We should also consider the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms. There can be no excuse or justification for condoning impunity. Although the international community is responding late in the day, there is still a window to act to mobilize appropriate resources and to reverse one of the worst human rights and humanitarian crises of our time. We need to uphold our responsibility to protect Central Africans from the risk of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“As a first step among a series of initiatives, my Office is working to support the efforts of the President of the Commission on Human Rights of the National Transitional Council and the National Coordinator of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to organize peace forums in the country that will bring together community and religious leaders from seven provinces. But that is not enough. I urge the international community to contribute to the process. It will be difficult to promote reconciliation and restore peace in the country without addressing the current culture of impunity. The human rights violations and abuses that have occurred have sowed seeds of hatred in communities.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“However, recognizing the fact that the transitional authorities have neither the capacity to protect the civilian population nor to exercise control over the armed elements that are attacking them, particularly women and children, the international community must take concrete measures to assist the State to stop the abuses and protect civilians. There is an urgent need to support the full and effective deployment of MISCA. African countries should urgently contribute troops to the Mission. There should be concerted efforts to promote and support a national peace and reconciliation process. There is an urgent need to promote dialogue between Christians and Muslims to mitigate the existing ethnic and religious divisions in the country.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“In our interaction with religious leaders, we noted that, despite concerted efforts by the Archbishop and the Imam of Bangui to promote peace and dialogue, the impact of the initiatives undertaken since December 2012 remains limited. There is an urgent need to support and intensify such interreligious dialogue, both at the national and at the community levels. In my assessment, the widespread, unchecked nature of attacks by ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka militias, as well as by armed civilians associated with them, against civilians on the basis of religion or ethnicity constitute crimes against humanity. If not halted, there is a risk of genocide in the country. The primary responsibility for the protection of the population lies with the Central African authorities.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“However, it is evident that their resources and capacity to protect are limited, given the scale of the violence and the fact that it is happening across the country and MISCA is still only partially deployed. There is an urgent need for the full deployment of MISCA peacekeepers as soon as possible. Another concern emerging from our mission and which has had a negative impact on civilian protection was the perception by some that peacekeepers deployed in the country were not neutral. Some interlocutors alleged that peacekeepers, in some instances, were perceived to side either with anti-Balaka or ex-Seleka elements, which has eroded trust in some instances and affected their capacity to act.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“The violence that was initially perceived as a confrontation between ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka militias quickly evolved into a very dangerous confrontation between Muslim and Christian civilians, and the level of hatred between these communities shocked me. Incitement to commit violence on the basis of religion or ethnicity and deliberate and targeted attacks against civilians based on their identity are factors that indicate a high risk both of crimes against humanity and of genocide. There is no doubt that the actions of the African- led International Support Mission for the Central African Republic (MISCA) and of French troops have contributed immensely to the protection of Central Africans, in particular in and around camps for internally displaced persons.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“The Bishop of Bossangoa diocese decried the abuses committed against Christians and the perceived complicity of the Muslim communities. On the other hand, the representative of the Muslim community in Bossangoa decried continued attacks against Muslims by anti-Balaka, who in his view were being hosted and supported by the local Catholic bishop. In consultations with the then Head of Transition, Michel Djotodia, I stated to him clearly that he bears primary responsibility for security and that he should take all measures possible to protect all populations, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation. We urged Mr. Djotodia to join forces with religious leaders and civil society to immediately embark on a reconciliation campaign aimed at putting an end to the violence and to the hatred between communities.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“For example, attacks in Bangui on 5 and 6 December resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 people, most of whom were ex-Sele'ka members and Muslim civilians. In interviews with some individuals who claimed to be members of anti-Balaka militias in Bangui, they alleged that the militias have deployed in all 16 provinces of the country to mobilize Christian civilians against Muslim civilians. On the other hand, the ex-Sele'ka elements continue to carry out attacks against Christian civilians throughout the country. While in the Central African Republic, we received testimony from people who had witnessed the killing of Christian civilians by ex-Seleka during a series of reprisal attacks. The religious leaders in Bossangoa had divergent views on who bore responsibility for the ongoing violence in the province.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“At the same time, as Council members will hear in greater detail from my colleague Assistant Secretary-General Kyung-wha Kang, the humanitarian situation is equally very disturbing. In response to continued attacks by ex-Sele'ka elements targeting Christian civilians since December 2012, traditional, community-based self-defence groups across the country evolved into a more organized Christian militias known as the anti-Balaka, which have targeted ex-Seleka members and Muslim civilians suspected of supporting them. Reports received indicate that the anti-Balaka militias are becoming more organized than before and reportedly include some former army soldiers sympathetic to former President Bozize. These former soldiers have reportedly played a leadership role in organizing attacks against Muslim civilians.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“And this violence continues even as we are discussing the human rights and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic today. As I said in my previous statement at the Arria Formula meeting of the Security Council on 1 November 2013, we face a situation of widespread and massive violations of human rights and abuses such as have never been witnessed before in the country. There have been widespread reports of summary executions and other forms ofextrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, forced displacements, and acts of mutilation and sexual violence committed against adults and children, as well as the destruction and widespread looting of property, including hospitals, schools, churches and mosques.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source
“Mr. Dieng: I should like first of all to thank the Missions of Jordan and Luxembourg - and particularly you, Mr. President, and Ambassador Sylvie Lucas - for convening this briefing. As Council members are aware, during our visit to the Central African Republic, our main objective was to assess the risk of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity occurring in the country and to advocate with transitional authorities and other relevant stakeholders for a cessation of violence and enhanced protection of the civilian population. It was evident from what we saw and heard that the situation in the Central African Republic was desperate. We received reports and testimony from victims and witnesses that told of shocking episodes of violence perpetrated against innocent Central Africans, including women and children.”
2014-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7098 (2014) · source