Russian Mercenaries Stop UN Workers From Accessing Central African Republic Town
The UN staff, all of Central African Republic nationality, were on a mission to bring assistance to some individuals affected by the war situation in the country.
The UN staff, all of Central African Republic nationality, were on a mission to bring assistance to some individuals affected by the war situation in the country.
Bisong Etahoben
Elements of the Russian mercenary outfit, Wagner Security Group, have been alleged to have blocked two staff of the United Nations from entering Grimari town, located on the Bambari highway, about 350 kilometres from Bangui, the capital.
The UN staff, all of Central African Republic nationality, were on a mission to bring assistance to some individuals affected by the war situation in the country.
“The Russian mercenaries said they were blocking the UN staff from entering the town because they had not been informed in advance of their arrival,” a local source told HumAngle.
“However, the UN says before leaving for Grimari, the prefect of Ouaka and the sub prefects of Bambari and Grimari had been informed of their arrival.
“The UN officials even had official documents to facilitate their movement but on arrival at the checkpoint situated at the entrance to Grimari, the Russian mercenaries and their Central African Republic military allies refused to recognize the documents and thus refused them access into the town.”
According to the source who was privy to the incident, “The Russian mercenaries said the official documents of the UN made no difference because people like the two individuals, parading themselves as UN humanitarian workers and staff of international non-governmental organisations are those who regularly supply arms to rebels,” our source declared.
Observers in the Central African Republic capital, Bangui, are of the opinion that the negative attitude of the Russian mercenaries towards humanitarian workers has been responsible for a good number of deaths among displaced persons because of the delay the Russians cause by slowing down the movement of humanitarian convoys carrying supplies to the needy.
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