CAR: Six Die In FACA Soldiers, 3R Rebels Clash In Mann

Four civilians, one soldier, and one rebel were killed in clashes between FACA soldiers and rebels of the Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) on Sunday, Dec. 19, night.

The FACA soldiers and 3R rebels clashed in the locality of Mann, situated 60 kilometres from Bocaranga, where the soldiers and rebels including those of CPC, often clashed. About 10 persons were also wounded in the clashes.

The fight broke out on Saturday night around 8 p.m. about 10 kilometres from Mann, and continued to the centre of the town by daybreak.

“A patrol of FACA soldiers attacked rebel positions on the Mberewock highway thus setting off violent clashes which lasted for over seven hours,” a security source hinted.

“The 3R rebels chased the FACA soldiers who were forced to abandon the town to the rebels until Sunday morning.”

According to the doctor at the Ngaoundaye hospital, besides the six dead, there were also seven persons currently hospitalized with serious wounds.

Four were brought to the Ngaoudaye hospital and three to the Mann health centre while waiting to be referred to the Ngaoundaye hospital as the Mann health centre had been vandalized by the assailants.

Twenty-four FACA soldiers eventually returned to Mann after the rebels withdrew from the town at 8 a.m. in the morning.

There were 25 FACA soldiers positioned in Mann while there were 67 others in Mberewock situated 20 kilometres from Mann.

However, after the triple attacks on the town of Kaita, Zaoro-Lim and Mberewock last month, 67 soldiers based in the locality left for Bangui, leaving behind only few soldiers in Bang, Mann, and Litele.