West and Central Africa

Refugee in the 3 x 5 metre hut he shares with seven other people, Erengeti, Democratic Republic of Congo, July 2003

Armed conflicts continue to bring widespread destruction to many parts of West and Central Africa. Refugees and internally displaced people face appalling conditions.

Across the region, there is discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, the majority of whom are denied the right to medical treatment. Political repression is widespread and human rights defenders come under attack. Pervasive violence against women is exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to health care and education.

Killings, abductions and rape by government forces and armed opposition groups are widespread in armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The region faces severe economic conditions. Massive corruption and illegal exploitation of natural resources contributes to denying many their economic, social and cultural rights, in particular the rights to food, water, health, housing and education.

Gambia: Journalist held incommunicado

'Where is Ebrima?' The great student festivity day in Sweden's foremost university city, April 30 2009. Thousands of people gather. But Ebrima is missing from the crowd. © Minna Salminen

Journalist Ebrima B. Manneh was arrested in July 2006 and has been held incommunicado and without trial ever since.

Call on the Gambian authorities to immediately release Ebrima

Far from new, far from over - the crisis in Mali

Amputations as punishment, children forced to fight as soldiers, people arrested because of their ethnicity. For nearly a year, we have been documenting the long catalogue of abuses committed in Mali by the Malian military, the Junta government and the various armed opposition groups operating in the North of the country.

With the situation now hitting the world headlines, we've produced some new briefings to keep you informed:

News

Chinese mining industry contributes to abuses in Democratic Republic of the Congo 19 Jun 2013

Mali: new briefing exposes 'appalling' human rights abuses in Bamako detention centres 07 Jun 2013

Nigeria: President should refuse to sign draconian anti-gay & lesbian bill 05 Jun 2013

More news

Guinea: Soldiers held in an unlawful place of detention

Eleven soldiers, believed to have served under President Lansana Conté, are being held a place of detention known for ill treatment of prisoners. A twelfth has been injured in custody. Take action (PDF)

Further information

Cameroon: Impunity underpins persistent abuse 29 January 2009
Mauritania: Torture at the heart of the state 3 December 2009

News and reports from our research headquarters

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