CAR: Humanitarian organizations target in Bambari /update 1

Event

The UN reported on Thursday, May 31, that international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been increasingly targeted by criminals in Bambari. According to the UN, the facilities of nine NGOs were looted during the month of May. The National Commission for Refugees office has also been targeted. NGOs temporarily suspended services in the city between May 15 and May 21 due to the violence. Tensions remain high in the city and further attacks are possible in the near-term.

Context

Numerous Western governments have issued travel advisories following the deterioration of the security situation in the CAR. On April 10, French diplomatic authorities issued a new travel advisory, advising their citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to the country. The same day US diplomatic authorities issued a security alert urging their citizens to avoid the PK5 neighborhood and the 7th arrondissement of Bangui. Two days later the UK issued a travel advisory, advising against all nonessential travel to central Bangui, and against all travel to the rest of the CAR.

The CAR has suffered recurrent bouts of civil conflict since December 2013 which 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, DRC, 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, maintain a high degree of situational awareness, and remain vigilant for potential militant activity.

In general, 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.