By Justice Hub
The CAR has experienced a great of instability over the past two years. In 2013, the government of François Bozizé was overthrown by the Séléka rebels, an alliance of various rebel groups, most of them Moslem.
The Séléka leader, Michel Djotodia, became the new president of the CAR. But some other African leaders did not recognise his government, and he was forced to sign a decree, paving the way for the creation of a transitional government. The government, led by Catherine Samba-Panza, referred the situation to the International Criminal Court in May 2014.
Séléka and anti-Balaka militias opposed to them are suspected of crimes including, murder, rape, forced displacement, persecution, pillaging, attacks against humanitarian missions and the use of children under the age of 15 in combat. Over a million people (or 20% of the population) have had to flee to neighbouring countries. It’s estimated that about 6,000 people have been killed in the fighting.
This is part of a series of long-form infocomics about the situations that the ICC is dealing with:
- Why is the CAR I situation at the ICC?
- Why is the DRC situation at the ICC?
- Why is the Uganda situation at the ICC?
- Why is the Kenya situation at the ICC?
- Why is the Mali situation at the ICC?
- Why is the Darfur situation at the ICC?
The infocomics are made by Italian journalist and cartoonist Emanuele del Rosso, who works for Justice Hub.