No Class

Seleka MPC fighters at a roadblock in Bojomo, Ouham province, with a desk they removed from the local school.
Seleka MPC fighters at a roadblock in Bojomo, Ouham province, with a desk they removed from the local school.  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
A school director in Ouaka province who said fighters in the area scare children and their parents.
A school director in Ouaka province who said fighters in the area scare children and their parents. “If the Seleka were not here at the school, then parents would send their kids to study,” he said. “But right now, we have hundreds of students who do not come.” © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
Fighters from the Central African Patriotic Movement (Mouvement Patriotique pour la Centrafrique, MPC), a Seleka group, in Mbrès, Nana-Grébizi province, who are based next to two schools.
Fighters from the Central African Patriotic Movement (Mouvement Patriotique pour la Centrafrique,  MPC), a Seleka group, in Mbrès, Nana-Grébizi province, who are based next to two schools. All schools in the town are closed because fighters often occupy the buildings.  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
UN peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo using a school building in De Gaulle, in Ouham-Pendé province, as their base in November 2016. The forces left the school after Human Rights Watch informed UN authorities.
UN peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo using a school building in De Gaulle, in Ouham-Pendé province, as their base in November 2016. The forces left the school after Human Rights Watch informed UN authorities.  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
A 15-year-old girl from Nana-Grébizi province, who has not attended school since 2013.
A 15-year-old girl from Nana-Grébizi province, who has not attended school since 2013.  “I want to be a teacher because they are important for the community and because they are respected,” she told Human Rights Watch. “But now, I don’t know what I can do, I just stay at home all day.”  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
United Nations peacekeepers from Pakistan using a school building in Mourouba, Ouaka province, as their base in violation of UN guidelines and regulations. The forces left the school in January 2017 after Human Rights Watch informed UN authorities.
UN peacekeepers from Pakistan using a school building in Central African Republic as their base.  The forces left the school in January 2017 after HRW informed UN authorities © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
An 11-year-old girl who has been out of school for three years because Seleka fighters are based near her school. “I liked being in school, it made me feel good to put on my uniform and go to class,” she said.
An 11-year-old girl who has been out of school for three years because Seleka fighters are based near her school. “I liked being in school, it made me feel good to put on my uniform and go to class,” she said. “I liked literature because it was the subject I was best at. I want to be a teacher, but now I have to work in the fields.”  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
A 13-year-old girl from Nana-Grébizi province who has not attended school for four years. “With the school closed I don’t feel like I can be smart anymore,” she said.
A 13-year-old girl from Nana-Grébizi province who has not attended school for four years. “With the school closed I don’t feel like I can be smart anymore,” she said.  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
A teacher from Sekia-Dalliet, where anti-balaka fighters occupied a school building for two years. “One day an anti-balaka fighter was taking a desk to burn and I had had enough,” he said.
A teacher from Sekia-Dalliet, where anti-balaka fighters occupied a school building for two years. “One day an anti-balaka fighter was taking a desk to burn and I had had enough,” he said. “I ran up and told him to stop. I told him to put down the desk because it was for the kids. He pulled out a knife and hit me in the head. I was taken to the hospital immediately.”  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
An 18-year-old student in Ouaka province who has lost four years of schooling. “It is not normal for a child to lose this much time, it has blocked my future,” he said. “I wanted to be a doctor, but that is impossible without school.”
An 18-year-old student in Ouaka province who has lost four years of schooling.  “It is not normal for a child to lose this much time, it has blocked my future,” he said. “I wanted to be a doctor, but that is impossible without school.”  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch
The boys primary school in Mbrès, mostly closed since 2013. Seleka MPC fighters left the school building in December 2016 but are based meters away.
The boys primary school in Mbrès, mostly closed since 2013. Seleka MPC fighters left the school building in December 2016 but are based meters away.  © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch

All photos © 2017 Edouard Dropsy for Human Rights Watch 

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