20 Jan 2018 | 10:08 PM UTC
CAR: Fighting near Paoua leaves at least 100 dead as of January 5
Clashes between armed groups in Paoua leaves at least 100 people dead, 35,000 others displaced as of January 5; additional fighting expected in the coming days
Event
As of Friday, January 5, fighting that broke out on January 3 between members of the Central African Revolution and Justice (RJ) group and fighters from the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African Republic (MNLC) - allegedly militants of the Ex-Seleka umbrella group, a coalition of rebel militant groups - near Paoua (Ouham-Pendé prefecture) had left over 100 people dead and roughly 35,000 more displaced. Heavy fighting between the groups has been ongoing in the area since December 27. Ex-Seleka fighters from the Central African Patriotic Movement (MPC) have burned over 2000 houses in the area (including near Babessa and Mia-Pendé) in recent days; many health centers outside of Paoua have reportedly closed due to the ongoing fighting.
Additional fighting is expected near Paoua and elsewhere in Ouham-Pendé prefecture in the coming days.
Context
The government of the Central African Republic (CAR) is currently attempting, with the support of the international community, to restore its authority throughout the country by redeploying officials and re-establishing local government offices, hoping to undermine the influence of armed groups. Central African government officials reportedly surveyed Paoua and its local security environment on January 5.
Religious conflicts have ravaged CAR since December 2013. Despite a ceasefire signed between 13 rebel groups and the government on June 19, 2017, clashes remain frequent throughout the country. 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 neighboring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad.
Advice
Most Western governments advise against nonessential travel to the capital Bangui and against all travel to the rest of the country (particularly the northern provinces of Mambéré-Kadéï and Ombella-Mpoko and the eastern provinces of Nana-Grebizi, Ouaka, Basse-Kotto, Bamingui-Bangoran, Haute-Kotto, Mbomou, Vakaga and Haut-Mboubou) due to security concerns. Travel should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.
