ICC extends probe to CAR

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda (pictured) said her team was examining an "endless list" of atrocities committed since the Central African Republic (CAR) slid into chaos early last year.

The prosecution's statement did not name suspects, but said there was clear evidence that mainly Muslim Seleka rebels had targeted non-Muslim civilians, since early 2013.

And mainly Christian majority forces appeared to have systematically targeted Muslims.

"I cannot ignore these alleged crimes," said Bensouda, who was formerly a senior prosecutor in her home country of Gambia.

She said there was a "reasonable basis to believe that both the Seleka and the anti-bakaja [anti machete] groups have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes."

These included murder, rape, forced displacement, persecution and using child soldiers, she said.

Violence persistent

The landlocked Central African Republic and its population of 4.6 million was plunged into conflict after a coup in March 2013 by Seleka.

The group overthrew president Francois Bozize and installed its own appointee, Michel Djotodia.

Last January, foreign leaders persuaded Djotodia to step down after widespread atrocities.

Violence has continued even though President Catherine Samba-Panza appointed a senior Seleka leader, Mahamat Kamoun, as the country's prime minister in August to head a broad coalition including representatives from rival armed groups.

Further measures

A new UN mission has taken charge of peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic. It includes troops from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and Morocco alongside African soldiers.

The 7,600-strong UN force known by its French acronym, MINUSCA, takes over from MISCA, a smaller Security Council-mandated African deployment that has been stationed in the country since December, alongside 2,000 French soldiers.

In a separate investigation, the ICC is already trying former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba on charges of crimes against humanity. Forces under his command invaded CAR in 2002 and allegedly committed rape, murder and pillaging.

The ICC currently has eight investigations open, all of them in Africa.

ipj/mkg (Reutres, AP, AFP)