THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The International Criminal Court said Wednesday crimes committed in the Central African Republic may fall under its jurisdiction.
The United Nations and members of community of non-governmental organizations have sounded alarms regarding the ongoing conflict in CAR. The Red Cross said the crisis has long been forgotten and the British government said the entire population of 4.6 million people needed some form of humanitarian assistance.
ICC chief Fatou Bensouda said evidence from a U.N. fact-finding mission to CAR seems to confirm murder, rape, attacks on civilians and the recruitment of child soldiers have occurred in the country.
"I remain deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the security situation and reports of serious ongoing crimes committed in the Central African Republic," she said in a statement. "I reiterate my previous calls to those responsible for committing these crimes to desist forthwith."
Similar concerns were expressed Tuesday by independent human rights experts working for the United Nations.
The rebel Seleka coalition toppled the government in CAR in early 2013 and is suspected of committing atrocities.
Bensouda said a meeting scheduled later this month at the Security Council would give member states the chance to "demonstrate that CAR has not been forgotten by the international community."
