CAR: Aid agencies halt work after attacks on staff

Event

Four international aid agencies have announced the suspension of operations in northern Central African Republic (CAR) due to attacks on aid workers by armed groups, according to the United Nations (UN). Solidarites International, Intersos, Danish Church Aid, and Person in Need Relief Mission, will relocate their staff to CAR's capital, Bangui, until the situation stabilizes. Other aid groups have decided to scale back operations, to focus only on life-saving situations.

Aid workers in the country's Ouham region have been attacked on 16 occasions since March 2017.

Context

CAR has been plagued by conflict since march 2013, when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, triggering reprisals by Christian "anti-balaka" militias. The two groups have been involved in violent clashes for the past four years, throwing the country into chaos. Although the February 2016 election of President Faustin Archange Touadéra marked the first stage of the post-crisis transition after years of sectarian conflict in the Central African Republic, the situation remains volatile throughout the country. While mass killings have ceased and the French Sangaris operation ended at the end of October 2016, various armed groups continue to operate in the country.

With more than 10,000 soldiers and policemen, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is tasked with maintaining order in CAR.

Advice

Many Western governments advise against travel to the country due to these and other security concerns. Travel should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.