General Briefing: Central African Republic

On 10 December 2012 fighting broke out between the Bozizé government and the Seleka rebel alliance, leading to a significant deterioration in the human rights and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). The CAR had no previous history of sectarian violence, but during this time local sources noted the increased targeting of the Christian population by Seleka elements.

In March 2016 the CAR returned to democratic rule; however, the transition period between the Seleka’s seizure of power in March 2013 and the election of Faustin-Archange Touadéra three years later saw widespread violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

The CAR is now plagued by cyclical violence perpetrated by increasingly fragmenting armed groups that operate without restraint across the country. These groups are responsible for the majority of human rights violations, including of FoRB.

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