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BANGUI, Central African Republic – Military justice experts and legal advisors from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa visited Bangui, Central African Republic, recently as part of a military justice subject matter expert exchange and familiarization visit.
The purpose of the exchange was to conduct a site survey of the current situation and efforts to reform the military justice system in the Central African Republic.
“The population is still waiting for justice for crimes that were committed by members of the military and armed groups from a decade ago,” said U.S. Army Maj. Michele O’Neil, a U.S. Africa Command defense liaison in the Central African Republic, assigned to CJTF-HOA, working at the U.S. Embassy Bangui. “There is an overall sense of impunity being widespread.”
The Central African Republic government, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central Africa and the international community are working together to help facilitate a long-term national process of dialogue and reconciliation that begins with providing justice, said O’Neil.
Multiple stakeholders from the Central African Republic government, USAFRICOM, U.S. Embassy Bangui, MINUSCA and European Union Training Mission participated in discussions on ways to implement the country’s Code of Military Justice.
A decree to create the mechanism to apply military justice through the nominations of nine magistrates is pending approval by the Central African Republic president, said Nicaise Karnou-Samedi, a magistrate for the Central African Republic.
“Once the decree is signed, then three courts will officially have military magistrates in Bouar, Bangui and Bambari, which are aligned with Regional Armed Forces units in the Central African Republic,” said Karnou-Samedi.
According to O’Neil, the goal of the military justice subject matter exchange was to identify the gaps and shortfalls, and to determine possible engagement opportunities between the USAFRICOM office of legal counsel, the Defense Institute for International Legal Studies and CJTF-HOA.
Upon completion and submission of the site survey, O’Neil believes there is a possibility for mobile training teams to assist in training the Central African Republic magistrates, jurists, investigating judges and other government attorneys.
This unified effort is crucial for assisting the Central African Republic in building a stronger, disciplined and more reliable military, said O’Neil.
“It will improve the trust level of the population towards their military,” said O’Neil. “CJTF-HOA works with other partner nations to strengthen their military capability building through joint exercises throughout the continent.”
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2019 01:33 |
| Story ID: | 324084 |
| Location: | BANGUI, CF |
| Web Views: | 324 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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