CAR: Clashes between armed groups in Zemio (southeast)

Event

According to a report released on July 11 by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), sporadic clashes in the town of Zemio (southeast) forced 20,000 people to flee over the previous two weeks. At least six individuals have been killed. According to OCHA, on June 28, gunmen reportedly entered the town of Zemio, located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), looting and burning shops and houses. Bouts of deadly violence followed, with further clashes reported on July 7. According to the UN armed forces in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) present in Zemio, armed men belonging to the predominantly-Muslim Fulani ethnic group and armed men from the Christian anti-Balaka group are among the fighters. Twenty-eight humanitarian workers based in the area were reportedly relocated to Bangui on July 9, following rumors of renewed armed incursions in the town. MINUSCA is currently carrying out patrols on the main roads of the town and its surroundings.

Context

Despite a ceasefire signed between 13 rebel groups and the government on June 19, clashes remain frequent throughout the country.

Religious conflicts have ravaged the CAR since December 2013. Bangui especially has been gripped by deadly clashes between the Christian anti-Balaka and Muslim militias. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, created almost 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in the neighboring countries of Cameroon, the DRC, and Chad.

Advice

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