Central African Republic: Fears Over Smooth Elections Mount As 3R Rebels Increase Attacks

Commuters, especially commercial transporters in the Central African Republic have been lamenting over the continued perturbation of inter-city movement after rebels of the Retour, Reclamation and Rehabilitation – Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation – (3R) set up several roadblocks in the region.

The roadblocks are concentrated mostly on the national highway Number One, principal corridor, which is the main supply route between Beloko and the capital Bangui. 

Commercial transporters complain that the 3R roadblocks have come to add to the constant harassment to which they are subjected by law enforcement officers as well as continuous accidents on the said road.

On Wednesday, September 9, 2020, combatants of the 3R movement ambushed a detachment of soldiers of the Central African Republic national army in the locality of Bocaranga. 

They later waded into Bossemptele on the Bangui-Beloko highway where they set ablaze three vehicles after seizing all their cargo. One person was killed in operation.

As at Friday evening, some 3R fighters had established roadblocks some kilometres from Baboua on the Beloko highway.

Soldiers of the national army arrested two of the 3R rebels disguised as civilians as they were on their way to Beloko town on a motorbike.

The increase in the incidents of transport disruption, especially on the highway that supplies the enclaved Central African Republic capital Bangui, is not only of grave concern to the commercial transporters but also to inhabitants of the villages along the highway. Most of them have abandoned their homes and gone into the bushes after the 3R raids.

The Central African Republic government and several international organisations and partners contributing to peace efforts in the country are particularly concerned especially as legislative and presidential elections in the country are scheduled for December 27, 2020.