Central African Republic Soldiers Abandon Positions At Cameroon Border
Many FACA soldiers have left the border post because they could not access the region and had no means of transportation.
Soldiers of the Central African Republic national army, FACA, have been abandoning their positions in Nagaoukala and Hassana, situated at the border with Cameroon.
A soldier told our reporter that the zone is challenging for them to access as they don’t have means of transportation.
“The zone is very inaccessible. We have no means of mobility. And too, we have not even been receiving our normal food rations, talk less of our allowances,” said the soldier who did not want to be named.
“We live here at the mercy of the local populations, which are truly very kind. Added to this is that we do not have enough soldiers to stand up to rebel attacks and their numbers which are most times superior to ours. Therefore, my colleagues and I have decided to abandon our positions here and return to Bocaranga.”
At Hassana, the border with Cameroon, the FACA soldiers say they are forced to put their lives in danger.
“The Russians have brought and left us here for several weeks now. We imagine they think we can stand our grounds in the face of the enemies with only one charged carbine,” an officer said.
“We have no means of military communication available to call for military support in case of an attack. We do not like to bring polemics into this affair. If you were in our place, you would understand what I am saying.”
The military hierarchy in Bangui has not issued any official statement on the development.
The soldiers who have gone AWOL (absent without leave) are now in Bocaranga with their colleagues based in the Ouham-Pende sub-prefecture.
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