CAR: 15 people killed in Kaga-Bandoro July 1

Event

Fifteen people were killed in Kaga-Bandoro (central CAR) on Saturday, July 1, amid crossfire between members of the ex-Seleka armed group, Patriotic Movement for the Central African Republic (MPC), and United Nations (UN) peacekeepers from the United Nations MINUSCA force (Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic). No UN personnel were injured during the violence. Further clashes cannot be ruled out in the coming days.

Context

Approximately 20,000 displaced persons have arrived in the Kaga-Bandoro area since the fall of 2016. In May 2017, violence resumed in the town of Kaga-Bandoro. Despite a ceasefire signed between 13 rebel groups and the government on June 19 in Rome, clashes remain frequent throughout the country. As of late June of this year, around 100 people had died due to fighting in the northeast town of Bria.

Religious conflicts have ravaged CAR since December 2013. Bangui especially has been gripped by deadly clashes between the Christian Anti-Balaka and Muslim FPRC militias. 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 the CAR due to these and other security concerns. Travel should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.​