UN Chief Criticizes Central African Republic Forces’ Actions

UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly criticized the Central African Republic’s security and allied forces in a new report for an “unprecedented increase in hostile threats and incidents” targeting U.N. peacekeepers and alleged human rights abuses.

His 37-page report to the U.N. Security Council obtained Wednesday by the Associated Press said people in the country continue to face an “unacceptably high level of violence.” He called on President Faustin Archange Touadera to place peace and reconciliation at the heart of his second term “and seize the opportunity to address the root causes of the conflict.” The mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013.