CAR: Violent clashes in Gamboula (southwest) April 22

Event

According to a communiqué released by the UN mission in the CAR (MINUSCA) on Monday, April 23, violent clashes broke out in Gamboula (southwest) the day prior. Militants from the self-defense group Siriri reportedly opened fire on MINUSCA peacekeepers before being repelled. At least four people were killed in the clashes. The altercation occurred amid increasing tensions between the UN peacekeeping forces and armed groups.

Context

Numerous Western governments have issued travel advisories for the CAR due to deteriorating security conditions since April 10. France is advising its citizens to postpone nonessential travel to the entire country. The US is advising its citizens to avoid the PK5 neighborhood and the 7th arrondissement of the capital Bangui. The UK is advising against nonessential travel to central Bangui, and against all travel to the rest of CAR.

Conflicts have afflicted CAR since December 2013 and have led to hundreds of deaths, created almost 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad. Clashes between various armed groups continue to be reported on a regular basis despite the June 2017 signing of a ceasefire agreement between the CAR government and 13 out of the 14 rebel groups present in the country.

Advice

Individuals present in CAR are advised to monitor local developments and maintain a high degree of situational awareness.

More generally, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country for various security reasons, including the presence of armed groups and ongoing conflicts.