Civic space closing ahead of local elections, controversial plans to change constitution, says human rights group

General

Report: civic space closing ahead of local elections, controversial plans to change constitution

In a report published on 4th April 2023, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that authorities are cracking down on civil society, media actors and opposition parties ahead of local elections, set to take place in July 2023. Meanwhile, the government and allies of the ruling power, the Mouvement Cœurs Unis (MCU; United Hearts Movement) have been pushing for a constitutional referendum to change the Constitution to allow President Touadéra to run for a third term in 2025, allowing pro-referendum supporters to hold protests while preventing opposition parties from holding rallies, including by denying permits to hold protests using security grounds. Two MCU-allied groups, the Requins and Galaxie Nationale, are actively campaigning for the constitutional referendum, and have harassed the referendum’s opponents, online and in the streets, according to HRW.

In dozens of interviews, journalists, CSO activists and members of political opposition parties have told HRW they have been threatened and harassed by authorities and MCU allies, including through police summons on allegations of being linked to armed groups, use of hate speech, intimidation and public vilification. Human rights activists have pointed at a climate of fear created by pro-government groups, while journalists indicated that they are increasingly using self-censorship.

In response to HRW’s damning report, CAR’s government issued a statement, on 13th April 2023, denouncing the reports, which authorities call “shameless”, “full of untruths”, and aimed to “tarnish” CAR.

Expression

Journalist banned from National Assembly

According to a statement by the Journalists’ Union of Free African Press (Union des Journalistes de la Presse Libre Africaine – UJPLA), journalist Igor Djeskin Sénapaye, who works for private radio station Radio Ndéké Luka, was banned from accessing the National Assembly and covering its events. The decision was reportedly taken on 2nd March 2023 by Evariste Ngamana, the vice-president of CAR’s National Assembly, due to a broadcast by the journalist a day earlier alleging corruption during a broadcast of the programme Magazine Parlementaire”, which Ngamana has reportedly described as biased and the dissemination of false information.

Association

Three trade unionists interrogated, detained

Following the start of a 21-day strike in public schools, called for by a platform of trade unions in the education sector (primary and secondary education), three leaders of trade unions were interrogated and detained on 10th March 2023. A judicial investigation was reportedly opened against Innocent Kéréguelé, Kevin Wikon and Guillaume Sessé Brassy on accusations of disturbing public order, verbal threats followed by violence and inciting hatred against the government. The detention of the trade unionists sparked a protest before the Bangui High Court, gathering certain members of the trade union. The three were reportedly released a while later.

The strike, calling for a salary increase, started on 7th March 2023, and was ended on 20th March 2023, after reportedly having received verbal engagements from authorities. Trade union leaders in the sector reportedly met with President Faustin-Archange Touadéra on 14th March 2023.

Peaceful Assembly

Women protest against insecurity

On 20th December 2022, hundreds of women protested in front of the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, in Bangui against a renewed surge of insecurity in the country. The women, members of Cercle des Femmes Républicaines (Circle of Republican Women), were wearing white headscarfs, chanting the national anthem and holding banners with slogans such as “Stop! No need for new orphans and widows in the Central African Republic”. The protest coincided with a visit to CAR by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary in charge of peacekeeping operations. The protesters handed over a memorandum to MINUSCA.