Europe ‘helped fund’ CAR conflict

European timber companies have helped fund the war in the Central African Republic through lucrative deals with militia groups, campaign group Global Witness alleges in a new report.

Traders in France and Germany paid more than $4m (£2.5m) to rebel groups accused of war crimes, the report says.

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It accuses the EU of failing to stop imports of illegal timber to Europe.

Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict which followed a coup by the Seleka rebel group in March 2013.