CAR: UN experts link 'Russian trainers'/Wagner to grave abuses

UN independent experts, including the Working Group on mercenaries, reported in March 2021 mass executions without trial, arbitrary detention, torture during interrogations, enforced disappearances and attacks on humanitarian workers by private military personnel operating alongside CAR forces, naming Sewa Security Services, Lobaye Invest SARLU and the Wagner Group. In October 2021 they said Wagner-linked 'Russian instructors' were violently harassing and intimidating civilians, peacekeepers, journalists and aid workers, with reported rape and sexual violence by Wagner officers, and noted a CAR Special Commission of Inquiry had found violations including by 'Russian instructors'.

Established by. UN Special Procedures (Working Group on mercenaries and others) joint statements of 31 March 2021 and 27 October 2021, after communications to the CAR Government.

Latest. Russian personnel remain in CAR in 2026; the UN CAR arms embargo on the Government was lifted in 2024 (res. 2745). No accountability for these abuses reported.