CAR: Two killed in Bocaranga (northwest) Sep. 23

Event

Military officials issued a statement on September 26 announcing that at least two people had been killed and five more injured in an attack in Bocaranga on September 23. The attack also forced approximately 23,000 people from Bocaranga and Niem to flee into the countryside. The attackers reportedly belong to the 3R (Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation) armed group, and were repelled by members of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). UN officials warned that this new outbreak of violence will greatly complicate efforts to distribute humanitarian assistance, as the thousands of people who fled to the countryside may be outside the reach of UN aid efforts.

Context

Religious conflicts have ravaged CAR since December 2013. Despite a ceasefire signed between 13 rebel groups and the government on June 19, clashes remain frequent throughout the country. The conflict has resulted in hundreds 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 Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad.

Advice

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