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For the past ten months, the Central African Republic (CAR) has been host to one of the world's most brutal conflicts, which has left uncounted civilians dead and over a quarter of the country's population displaced.
On July 23rd, representatives from the two main rebel groups in the conflict signed a ceasefire agreement, which may be a sign that the war is drawing to a close. However, some observers have raised concerns that the peace process could actually prove to be counterproductive, if it entrenches the impunity that has empowered the rebels in the first place.
In a series of photos posted to Twitter, Human Rights Watch researcher Lewis Mudge explains why that impunity has been so dangerous. His photo timeline of the conflict shows the cycles of brutal violence and more-brutal reprisals, as armed groups grow in power, unchecked by anything but more violence from their opponents. With each new round of violence and reprisal, civilians have paid a terrible price. At each stage, Mudge points out, the combatants were enabled by impunity for their crimes.
Before the war broke out, CAR was controlled by the brutal regime of President Francois Bozize, who took power in a 2003 military coup and held on to it with the aid of torture and other crimes used to terrorize his own people. The photos in particular show a torture facility sometimes known as Bozize's Guantanamo, and the awful methods used there:
Impunity reigned w/ Bozize in #CARcrisis. His bust at his torture center in 2013. Note the munitions scattered about. pic.twitter.com/55iUO0EVQx
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
Bozize's torture cntr in #CARcrisis called "Guantanamo"; #Seleka showing me around in 2013. Perfect ex of impunity pic.twitter.com/RdlyI1WDdj
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
#CARcrisis In these holes Bozize's prisoners would stand outside his villa until they died. pic.twitter.com/ePnSDQGaqG
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
From this hole Bozize's prisoners cld see out from thier cell at Guantamo. Bozize set stnd for impunity in #CARcrisis pic.twitter.com/UE33Lwajco
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
In 2013, Bozize was overthrown by a largely-Muslim rebel movement known as the Seleka, which embarked on a campaign of violence targeting non-Muslim civilians, burning entire villages and committing massacres and other horrifying crimes.
Bozize's impunity gave way 2 #Seleka impunity in 2013 in #CARcrisis. Here in Ouandago occpuying a maternity ward. pic.twitter.com/j7T2rPKspF
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
#Seleka detroyed everything in provinces in #CARcrisis erasing the memory of the country, operated w/ total impunity pic.twitter.com/jGWfleMPd8
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
#Seleka burned countless homes in 2013 as they solidified power in #CARcrisis. Knew there would b no consequences. pic.twitter.com/zwDxfz2Xmo
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
Throughout 2013 drove through burned out villages in #CARcrisis. #Seleka used Bozize's tactics from bush war in Neast pic.twitter.com/NrzOg8YCqy
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
#Seleka attacks continued in #CARcrisis up through 2013, a victim here in Gaga, w/ no regard for civilian lives. pic.twitter.com/GqGgFl4UGW
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
Eventually, armed groups known as the anti-Balaka formed to defend against the Seleka rebels. Unfortunately, their "defense" came to include atrocities against Muslim civilians, who were subjected to murder and mass displacement in a series of organized, targeted attacks:
Lines drawn in #CARcrisis in late 2013 as #Antibalaka rose up. Door on shop in Gaga, SDR = Seleka Doit Rester. pic.twitter.com/kAjXZ7B3Od
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
#Antibalka paint selves as liberators. False, in Damara, Nov 2013 they threatened 2 kill my driver 4 looking Muslim. pic.twitter.com/wCnq2N80C0
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
#Antibalaka in Berberati. Wld b a funny photo if not 4 fact they had been bragging about the Muslims they had killed pic.twitter.com/qLuUI3MCYG
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
An Anti-Balaka leader named Maturin Kombo, the commander of an anti-Balaka group responsible for a massacre of at least 72 men and boys, spoke openly to Human Rights Watch about the violence his men had committed.
Maturin Kombo, #Antibalaka leader responsible 4 killing at least 72 Muslim men & boys in Guen http://t.co/Sa0ZR71EXE pic.twitter.com/P761JwEErk
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
Kombo told me openly how he commanded men at Guen. Felt emboldend by total impunity in #CARcrisis http://t.co/vP7uyF0t64
— Lewis Mudge (@LewisMudge) August 4, 2014
Kombo's willingness to openly claim this violence is, for Mudge, another sign that impunity is a key driver of the conflict in CAR. He's not alone. Columbia Law School's Rebecca Hamilton warns in Foreign Policy that rebel leaders have learned that taking up arms is rewarded with political power, which can be leveraged into government positions and other benefits.
Unfortunately, there are already signs that rebel leaders see the ceasefire agreement as implicitly promising amnesty. At the signing ceremony, Seleka representative Mohammed Dhaffane proclaimed that "those who refuse to take the path of peace will end up sooner or later before the judges." If that's true, then this ceasefire may turn out to be only a prelude to further escalation of the conflict.
