Two civilians were killed when the vehicle, in which they were travelling, hit a landmine on Thursday, March 3, 2022. The incident happened near Tole village, situated sixty kilometres to the south of Bocaranga in the Ouham-Pende prefecture, northwest of the Central African Republic.
According to eyewitness accounts, the vehicle had been hired by the International Organisation for Immigration (IOM) to carry material to a school construction site in Tole.
“On its way back and on arrival at the village of Ngoutere, about 45 kilometres to the south of Bocaranga, the truck unfortunately hit a landmine which exploded and seriously wounded four persons. One of the wounded persons died at the scene while another one died in the Bocaranga hospital. The two others are still being treated in the Bocaranga hospital,” our source revealed.
Recall that on Sept. 8, 2021, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) announced the suspension of demining operations in the Nana-Membere, Ouham-Pende and Lim-Pende prefectures saying it was encountering some obstacles.
However, on Feb. 2, 2022, it announced the resumption of demining operations in various localities in the area.
According to General Sidiki Traore, Commander of MINUSCA, “demining action is currently going on and will continue. Already a number of successes have been recorded on the Besson-Niem, Bouar-Niem, Bocaranga-Bozoum and Niem-Yelewa highways. There is also another demining team in Berberati”.
Landmines have already claimed over 30 victims in the localities of Lim-Pende, Mambere-Kadei, Ouham-Pende and Nana-Mambere. Most of the victims were civilian businessmen or motor-taxi riders but during the last six months six UN Blue Helmets were wounded by landmine explosions in the localities of Mambere-Kadei and Lim-Pende.
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