CAR: Protests in Bangui to denounce recent violence April 11 /update 4

Event

On Wednesday, April 11, hundreds of demonstrators staged a march between the Muslim-majority PK5 district of Bangui, and the UN MINUSCA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic) base, to protest a recent wave of violence. According to local sources, the protesters laid the bodies of 17 people in front of the MINUSCA base, blaming the peacekeepers for deadly clashes on Tuesday, April 11.

According to the Mayor of Bangui, 21 people were killed on Tuesday in clashes between UN peacekeepers and Muslim self-defense groups in the PK5 neighborhood and the 3rd borough of Bangui. In addition, approximately 40 people were admitted to Bangui hospitals for gunshot wounds. According to UN officials, a convoy of peacekeepers came under heavy fire during an operation in the PK5 district in the mid-afternoon of Tuesday. At approximately 16:00 (local time), the convoy came under attack again while attempting to return to the MINUSCA base, prompting peacekeepers to open fire. One Rwandan peacekeeper was killed, and at least eight more were wounded in the clashes.

Further clashes and associated protests are likely in Bangui, notably in PK5 and in the vicinity of MINUSCA bases, in the coming days.

Context

MINUSCA has launched a series of security operations in recent days in the PK5 district of Bangui, targeting Muslim self-defense militias at the request of local residents following reports of violence and extortion. On April 8, unidentified gunmen attacked a MINUSCA base in Bangui; clashes between the gunmen and UN peacekeepers lasted several hours and resulted in two killed and 60 injured.

Bangui has been regularly affected by deadly clashes between the Christian Anti-Balaka group and ex-Seleka Muslim militias, particularly in the Muslim-majority PK5 district, which has long been a hotspot of ethnic violence. Tensions have increased since mid-January following the decision of local businessmen to stop paying self-defense militias that had been providing "protection" since 2014; they also filed a number of complaints against the groups and demanded their bases in the PK5 neighborhood be dismantled by the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA.

Advice

Individuals present in Bangui are advised to monitor local developments and maintain a high degree of situational awareness. Avoid all demonstrations or other public gatherings and be prepared to shelter in place (stock up on food, water, and other necessities) in the event of a sudden deterioration in the local security situation.

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.