Abuses Continue: Seleka Killings, Torture in the Sibut Area of the Central African Republic

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Young Seleka fighters sit guard at the entrance of Sibut. February 1, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
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The graves of four men executed by the side of the road in the PK110 neighborhood after they were apprehended from the PK60 neighborhood by Seleka forces. February 2, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
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Abraham Ngieri, 21, of Sibut, along with two other young men, was detained by a group of eight Seleka fighters in Sibut on January 28, 2014. They were taken to the main Seleka base located at the mayor’s office in Sibut. In front of the gathered Seleka commanders, the three men were tied up, tortured, and stabbed with knives for five hours, in an effort to get them to reveal the location of anti-balaka bases in the area. When it became clear that the men did not know the location of the bases, the Seleka commander of Sibut, General Rakis, ordered his soldiers to take the three men away and kill them. They took all three men to a house a few kilometers away, tied them up, stabbed them and set the house on fire. Abraham managed to free himself because the ropes binding him were burned, but the two other men burned to death. February 2, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
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Abraham Ngieri 21, of Sibut, along with two other young men, was detained by a group of eight Seleka fighters in Sibut on January 28, 2014. They were taken to the main Seleka base located at the mayor’s office in Sibut. In front of the gathered Seleka commanders, the three men were tied up, tortured, and stabbed with knives for five hours, in an effort to get them to reveal the location of anti-balaka bases in the area. When it became clear that the men did not know the location of the bases, the Seleka commander of Sibut, General Rakis, ordered his soldiers to take the three men away and kill them. They took all three men to a house a few kilometers away, tied them up, stabbed them and set the house on fire. Abraham managed to free himself because the ropes binding him were burned, but the two other men burned to death. February 2, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
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The family of Leono Wambiti mourn at his funeral after he died of gunshot wounds inflicted by Seleka fighters. On January 23 at 9 a.m., Seleka fighters fired at three men, including Leono Wambiti, killing two and gravely wounding Wambiti, shattering his jaw and leg. The Seleka fighters remained in the area until 3 p.m. and left Wambiti bleeding on the bridge. When local villagers finally managed to get him from the bridge after 3 p.m., six hours after he was shot, they evacuated him to the bush, where he hid for nine days without medical treatment. Leono Wambiti died from his infected wounds on February 2, the day Seleka fighters left Sibut. February 2, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
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The mother of Jean Fedangaré, 50, greets him and celebrates as he arrives home after being abducted by Seleka forces. Fedangaré, a cook at a popular Bangui restaurant, was abducted along with his son Eliam, 24, by Seleka fighers leaving Camp Kassai in Bangui and managed to escape during an attack. On January 23, an estimated 500 heavily armed Seleka fighters and commanders left Camp Kassai in Bangui on foot, abducting civilians in the area and forcing them to carry their munitions and luggage. February 3, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
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The mother of Eliam Fedangaré 24, celebrates as he arrives home with his father Jean Fedangaré. Father and son were abducted by Seleka fighers leaving Camp Kassai in Bangui and both managed to escape during an attack. On January 23 an estimated 500 heavily armed Seleka fighters and commanders left Camp Kassai in Bangui on foot, abducting civilians in the area and forcing them to carry their munitions and luggage. February 3, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
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Anti-balaka fighters in Sibut after Seleka forces left on February 2, 2014. The latest cycle of killings began on January 16, when Seleka and anti-balaka fighters tried to hold a reconciliation meeting under the sponsorship of local authorities and religious leaders. Although Seleka fighters had given assurances that they would not harm the unarmed anti-balaka leaders who came to the meeting, they executed all three of the anti-balaka representatives who attended the meeting, and then attacked the people who had come to watch the meeting, killing at least 16 more people. February 2, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
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A destroyed Seleka truck lies destroyed near the road to Sibut. February 1, 2014. © 2014 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 427585
Armed Seleka commanders and fighters are leaving their bases in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, and engaging in a new wave of horrific attacks against civilians in the town of Sibut. In some cases, Chadian peacekeeping troops have facilitated the movement of armed Seleka leaders complicit in grave abuses. Photographs by Marcus Bleasdale/VII.
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