6 Civilians Killed, 13 Wounded In Russian Mercenary Attack In Central African Republic

Six civilians were reported killed and 13 others seriously wounded in an incursion by Russian mercenaries into Dewa village, 25 km to the south of Koui, chief town of the sub-prefecture of the same name in Ouham-Pende prefecture of the Central African Republic.

The incursion on Thursday, Sept. 30, punctuated by random gunfire, has forced the village to flee to Koui while some fled into the bushes.

“Some of the villagers who fled into the bushes continue to arrive in Koui up till now,” a local source told HumAngle.

“The Russian mercenaries burst into Dewa on their market day and after intimidating the traders into fleeing, they harvested the abandoned goods of the traders.”

According to eyewitness accounts, some of the assailants entered the village on motorcycles while others came in pick-ups.

“They arrived at the market and started shooting indiscriminately into the air and the crowd. There was total disarray in the market,” an eyewitness who declined to be named for safety reasons said.

“In all, six persons who were hit by bullets died while thirteen others sustained serious bullet wounds.”

“For now, the village of Dewa is completely deserted and there is not a single soul in the village.”

“Not even animals can be seen in the abandoned village. In their hurry to escape from the assailants, most villagers did not even lock the doors of their houses leaving their properties at the mercy of thieves.”