Central African Republic Soldiers Kill 5 In Loura

Five persons were killed on Sunday, Nov. 28 by soldiers of the Central African Republic national army, FACA, in Loura, a council area situated 35 kilometres to the northeast of Bocaranga in the Ouham-Pende prefecture.

According to eyewitness accounts, the five victims, all of them Peul cattle herders, were on their way to the weekly Loura market to buy foodstuff when they came in contact with an army patrol in the zone.

“After some exchanges, they were arrested and taken by the national army soldiers some hundreds of metres to the village,” revealed a civil society activist who witnessed the horrible scene.

“Stripped naked and their hands tied behind their backs, they were shot to death without hesitation by the roadside in spite of the presence of a large crowd.”

“The sound of gunshots forced most of the buyers and sellers in the market to abandon their goods. Among the five victims, there was one woman and four men aged between 45 and 65 years.”

The Central African Republic national army soldiers have repeatedly been cited in the numerous cases of extrajudicial executions in the country as have also been mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Security Group.

“FACA soldiers only exhibit their prowess when they come face-to-face with civilians. But when confronted by rebels whom they are supposed to be fighting against, they take to their heels. This is the naked truth in this country, ” the civil society activist said.

“Since they have been fighting only for the perpetuation of President Faustin Archange Touadera in power, they have now joined the Russian mercenaries in killing their own people. They even dare to wear the insignia of Wagner Security Group on the uniform of the national army,” said another civil society activist.