Armed conflict and climate shocks have reportedly disrupted farming, pushed food prices higher, and deepened hunger. Over a third of CARS’s population experiences food insecurity, and many communities depend on aid for survival.
In the “Oral update”, Mr. De Leyser refers to the incident in March this year in which two young Fulani men went missing after traveling to Zemio to register to vote, only to be found later dead, a happening that triggered violence. Four more individuals seeking medical help reportedly vanished under similar circumstances.
In response, Russian mercenaries reportedly detained two suspected perpetrators, triggering roadblocks and ethnic mobilization—particularly by Azande militia calling for a halt to voter registration for Muslims and non-Azande residents.
In the “Oral Update”, Mr. De Leyser says that the March incident “sparked widespread tensions, resulting in attacks on government officials and UN peacekeepers, and a sharp rise in hate speech against Muslims and the Fulani ethnic group.”
“While we commend steps taken by the Mayor of Zemio to encourage dialogue between the various communities, we emphasize that the worrying levels of ethnic and religious hate speech must be addressed decisively, as they foster intolerance and often precipitate acts of violence,” the CSW official says.
Amid the unrests, CSW urges the government of CAR to “take concrete action to protect all civilians and to work towards disarming and demobilizing the armed groups operating in the country to ensure the right to life and security of all citizens. ”
“We call on Member States to both pressure and assist the government of CAR to ensure a thorough investigation of, and accountability for, the violations highlighted by the UN Working Group on Mercenaries,” Mr. De Leyser says in the “oral update”.
CSW officials go on to denounce what they describe as “the seeming rise in attacks on UN peacekeepers” and urge the CAR government to hold perpetrators accountable.
As the Central African nation prepares for the December 2025 polls, CSW officials call for “urgent institutional reform of CAR’s electoral authority, and appeal to the authorities to ensure upcoming local and regional elections, and the December presidential elections, are transparent and inclusive.”
Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.
