30 Oct 2019 | 02:52 AM UTC
CAR: MSF suspends operations in Bria October 28
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) suspends operations in Bria following attacks targeting their facilities
Event
The non-governmental organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced on Monday, October 28, that it has suspend operations in Bria (Haute-Kotto prefecture) following recent attacks. According to MSF officials, their facility in Bria was robbed for a third time on Saturday, October 26, by unidentified armed men. The facility was also attacked in April and July 2018, significantly impacting services in the area. It is unclear when MSF will resume operations in Bria.
Context
The Central African Republic (CAR) has suffered recurrent bouts of civil conflict since December 2012 which has led to hundreds of deaths, almost 700,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (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, particularly in Bria, 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 most of the east of the country for various security reasons, including the presence of armed groups.
