CAR: Deadly attack in Tagbara April 3

Event

According to the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA, one Mauritanian peacekeeper and 21 civilians were killed in an attack carried out against a MINUSCA camp in Tagbara on Tuesday, April 3. Eleven other peacekeepers were injured and 25 assailants were also reportedly killed. The Anti-Balaka armed group is suspected of being behind the attack. 

Context

Religious conflicts have led to devastating violence in CAR since December 2013. Despite a ceasefire signed by 13 rebel groups and the government in June 2017, clashes remain frequent throughout the country. The hostilities have resulted in thousands 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, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad.

With more than 10,000 soldiers and policemen, MINUSCA is tasked with maintaining order in CAR. Fourteen MINUSCA peacekeepers have died since January 2017. 

Advice

Most Western governments advise against nonessential travel to 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.