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Central African Republic: Update to CAF28479.FE of 29 January 1998 on the general attitude of the government toward members of the Yakoma tribe (2003)

Information on the general attitude of the government toward members of the Yakoma tribe since the failed coup attempt of 28 May 2001 can be found in CAF39457.FE of 23 August 2002. According to Country Reports 2002, security forces did not engage in “military reprisals, open executions, or the elimination of suspected rebel sympathizers, particularly members of the Yakoma ethnic group” in 2002, unlike in the previous year (31 Mar. 2003, Sec. 1.a). This source also noted that no action was taken in 2002 against the Presidential Security Unit (USP) forces for the alleged killing of Yakomas after the May 2001 coup attempt (Country Reports 2002 31 Mar. 2003, Sec. 1.c). It was estimated that approximately two-thirds of the members of the Yakoma ethnic group who had fled the Central African Republic (CAR) after the coup attempt in May 2001 had returned to the country by the end of 2002 (ibid., Sec. 2.d).

The UN's Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported that President Ange-Félix Patassé issued a decree establishing a commission for the rehabilitation and reintegration of former Yakoma civil servants returning from exile (IRIN 6 Mar. 2003). Furthermore, after François Bozizé's successful putsch of 15 March 2003, an amnesty was granted to all those convicted of involvement in the failed 28 May 2001 coup attempt (ibid. 8 May 2003). Hundreds of Yakoma tribe members asked to be repatriated, as they felt that "conditions were ripe for their return" after the March 2003 putsch (ibid. 5 May 2003).

No other recent mention of the general attitude of the government toward members of the Yakoma tribe could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002. 31 March 2003. United States Department of State. Washington, D.C. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18174pf.htm> [Accessed 16 May 2003]

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). 8 May 2003. “Government Sets Up Commission for Refugee Repatriation.” (AllAfrica.com/Central African Republic) <http://allafrica.com/stories/200305080564.html> [Accessed 16 May 2003]

______. 5 May 2003. “Central African Refugees Seek Voluntary Rapatriation.” (AllAfrica.com/Central African Republic) <http://allafrica.com/stories/200305050108.html> [Accessed 16 May 2003]

______. 24 April 2003. “President Grants Amnesty to Coup Plotters.” (AllAfrica.com/Central African Republic) <http://allafrica.com/stories/200304240027.html> [Accessed 16 May 2003]

______. 6 March 2003. “Commission Set Up to Rehabilitate Returning Civil Servants.” (AllAfrica.com/Central African Republic) <http://allafrica.com/stories/200303060095.html> [Accessed 16 May 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Internet sites, including:

Africatime

Amnesty International

Béafrica-Opinions

Center for International Development & Conflict Management

Centreafrique-Presse

Human Rights Watch

International Federation of Human Rights

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent

Le journal Internet de l'Agence France-Presse

Sangonet

WNC

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