The idea of witchcraft is buried deep in the psyche of those living in the Central African Republic and every year hundreds are charged with the practice for which the punishment is execution (although there are no recent reports of this punishment being carried out) however most are sent to prison with jail terms averaging about four years. In some local prisons about 50% of the prison population is taken up by those accused of witchcraft. For many more it is not a police matter and villagers take suspected witches into their own hands acting as judge and jury.

People get buried alive and find their homes torched. One local prosecutor even noted “I find that sometimes sending an accused child or woman to prison offers the best solution in protecting the person from mob violence, which often leads to death”. Instead, organisations like the United Nations are attempting to improve the situation by training residents about their human rights and raising awareness of legal assistance, however such help is fairly meaningless when an accused is confronted by an angry mob.

Many accuse others of witchcraft when they fall ill, believing that they have been cursed. In all probability, however, they have an HIV/AIDS related illness. Witch doctors flourish offering to immunize villagers against the practice by selling 'herbal vaccinations'.

A human rights worker in the country commented "Witchcraft is so widespread that campaigning to abolish the legal recognition of the crime is pointless". The issue of witchcraft in the Central African Republic has taken a more sinister turn of late with increasing numbers of children being accused of the practice. This video documentary explores this phenomenon.