CAR: Clashes between rebels and soldiers leave at least 11 dead, eight wounded in Ouham-Pende Prefecture Nov. 14

Event

Clashes between government troops and rebels left at least 11 civilians dead and eight more wounded near the town of Mann Nov. 14. Mann is located in Ouham-Pende Prefecture's Ngaoundaye Subprefecture, near the shared border with Cameroon and Chad. The rebels and soldiers exchanged fire at a marketplace, with troops repelling the militants. Local authorities have stated the attackers were part of Return, Reclamation, and Rehabilitation (Retour, Reclamation et Rehabilitation, 3R), a major rebel group operating in the area.

Mann is located approximately 600 km (370 miles) northwest of the capital, Bangui.

Context

In late 2020, 3R joined other rebel groups in forming the Coalition of Patriots for Change (Coalition des patriotes pour le changement, CPC), an umbrella group of rebel organizations that together control much of the country's territory. The CPC was created ahead of the December 2020 presidential elections with the aim of destabilizing the government and has been accused of serious human rights abuses; it poses a major threat to civilians in its area of operations.

The clashes are the latest violation of an Oct. 15 unilateral ceasefire announcement by President Faustin-Archange Touadera; the 3R group also reportedly carried out a fatal attack on an unknown village in the northwest of the country Nov. 9. That attack left two soldiers and one civilian dead.

Advice

Avoid travel at night and undertake all travel outside of urban centers in convoy and following a full security review of the route. Liaise with trusted sources on the status of routes before departure. Maintain regular contact with diplomatic representations.