Rights Watchdog Urges UN To Probe Peacekeepers' Inaction During Attack On IDP Camp In CAR

A prominent human rights watchdog urged the United Nations on Friday to thoroughly probe the conduct of peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR), who left thousands of civilians in danger during a recent deadly attack on a local displaced persons camp.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th December, 2018) A prominent human rights watchdog urged the United Nations on Friday to thoroughly probe the conduct of peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (car), who left thousands of civilians in danger during a recent deadly attack on a local displaced persons camp.

According to Amnesty International, an offshoot of the mainly Muslim armed group Seleka attacked the displaced persons camp in Alindao on November 15, killing from 70 to 100 people, mostly women, children and elderly people. The militants also looted and burned almost all shelters. UN peacekeepers, meanwhile, "retreated in an armoured vehicle to their central base, leaving stationed at the camp failed to defend against the attackers, or even fire warning shots."

"UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres should set up an independent special investigation to look into the 15 November attack in Alindao, as well as into other recent incidents (such as in Batangafo) in which MINUSCA [UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic] forces have been criticized for failing to respond adequately to attacks on civilians," the watchdog said in a report, issued on the day when the Security Council is holding a vote to extend MINUSCA's mandate for another year.

The watchdog maintained that the peacekeepers, represented at the time by Mauritanian troops, "failed in their duty to protect the lives of more than 18,000 people residing at the site."

The rights group also expressed concern that the inaction of peacekeepers could have turned into a pattern. In particular, the watchdog referred to the reported December 4 deadly attack on an IDP facility run by the Catholic church in Ippy, which the peacekeepers had similarly failed to prevent.