France Opens an Investigation on War Crimes Allegedly Committed by Groupe Castel

7-07-2022

Manon Picard

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

The French anti-terrorism prosecutors opened an investigation into the alleged complicity in war crimes connected to the Groupe Castel in the Central African Republic. The Groupe Castel, a French beverage company, is suspected of having made payments and provide vehicles to the armed militia Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) to “secure regional market positions”. 

The investigation has been started one year after the The Sentry, an investigative and policy organisation, published an article indicating that the “local office had been giving Union for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) militia a vehicle and money in order to obtain a stronger hold on the drinks market there”. According to the United Nations, the UPC “has carried out murders, rapes, torture, and has displaced civilians”. 

A spokesperson of the Groupe Castel stated that the company was cooperating with the French authorities. The spokesperson also stated that following the first accusations, an internal investigation had been opened but there had been no evidence of wrongdoing. 

Sources and further reading:

Sarah Morland and Tassilo Hummel. (2022, July 2). French prosecutors open war crime probe linked to Groupe Castel unit in Central African Republic. Reuters. Retrieved on July 7, 2022, from https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/french-prosecutors-open-war-crime-probe-linked-groupe-castel-unit-central-2022-07-02/

Radio France Internationale. (2022, July 2). France opens war crimes probe in connection with French drinks company Groupe Castel in CAR. RFI. Retrieved on July 7, 2022, from https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20220702-france-opens-war-crimes-probe-of-french-drinks-company-groupe-castel-in-car