Financial Crime Prevention Strategies Crucial to Ending Violence and Human Rights Abuses in Central African Republic
A recent United Nations Security Council report has highlighted the devastating impact of shadowy trade on the protracted violence and human rights abuses in the Central African Republic (CAR). The report underscores the urgent need for effective financial crime prevention strategies to curb the illicit flows that fuel the conflict.
Background
The CAR is one of the most vulnerable countries in Africa, with a weak governance structure and extreme vulnerability to shocks. As a result, it ranks among the lowest on the continent in terms of its ability to combat crime. The country’s criminal markets are highly developed, with overlapping illicit activities such as:
- Arms trafficking
- Human trafficking
- Illegal logging
- Poaching
The Role of Transnational Trafficking Networks
The UN Security Council has recognized the critical role of transnational trafficking networks in financing armed groups in CAR. In its latest resolution, the council tasked a panel of experts to research these networks and identify ways to disrupt their activities.
Regional Cooperation
Regional cooperation is crucial to addressing the transnational nature of the conflict. The CAR is situated between several countries with UNSC-imposed sanctions regimes, including:
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Sudan
- South Sudan
Chad, to the north, is a member of the Group of Five Sahel joint force, which coordinates with UN missions in the region to combat terrorism and criminal groups.
Calls for Action
In September last year, the council encouraged authorities in CAR and neighboring states to work together to investigate and combat transnational criminal networks and armed groups involved in arms trafficking. The council also re-authorized cooperation between the CAR panel and other panels and groups of experts in its analysis of transnational trafficking networks.
Findings of the Expert Panel
The recent report from the expert panel provides a detailed analysis of the pervasive ways in which cross-border smuggling impacts the conflict. Armed groups profit from illegal mining activities, including:
- Gold mining
- Diamond mining
They also engage in illegal taxation of all those involved in the supply chain and trade hunting ammunition and weapons for gold and precious minerals.
Recommendations
The findings of the expert panel highlight the urgent need for information-sharing between different UN fact-finding missions to develop a comprehensive picture of the shadowy trade that fuels the conflict. Resolving the conflict in a sustainable way can only occur if the illicit flows that pervade the country are addressed, making CAR a critical place for understanding and responding to illicit flows.
To achieve this, the CAR government must take concrete steps to strengthen its financial crime prevention strategies and work closely with international partners to disrupt transnational trafficking networks. The international community must also provide support to the CAR government to help it build capacity to combat crime and promote sustainable development in the region.