Tuesday, September 30, 2014

ICC Opens Probe of CAR

This will only take a second:

"ICC opens new Central African Republic probe" Associated Press   September 25, 2014

THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court is opening a new investigation into atrocities including murder, rape, and persecution during ruthless sectarian fighting since 2012 in the Central African Republic, the court’s prosecutor said Wednesday.

Months of fighting between the mostly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition and the Christian anti-Balaka militia have left at least 5,000 people dead in one of Africa’s least developed countries, prompting prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to step in and try to bring perpetrators to justice.

‘‘The list of atrocities is endless,’’ Bensouda said. ‘‘I cannot ignore these alleged crimes.’’

It is the court’s second investigation in the Central African Republic. In the first, a former Congo vice president, Jean-Pierre Bemba, is on trial on charges of commanding rebels who committed murder, rape, and pillaging in the country in 2002 and 2003. Bemba is awaiting verdicts in his trial, which began in 2010.

Bensouda opened a preliminary inquiry in Central African Republic in February and in May the conflict-torn nation’s government authorized the court to step in — a crucial step clearing the way for a full-blown investigation.

Rights group Human Rights Watch welcomed the move. ‘‘An impartial inquiry to identify those responsible for the most serious crimes from all parties is crucial to bring justice to the victims” said Richard Dicker, the group’s director of the international justice program.

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Last I heard Ebola had made its way there.