UN Forces In Central African Republic Launch Military Operation Against CPC Rebels

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has launched a massive military operation against rebels of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) on the Bambari-Alindao highway.

Maj. Zouhair El Kandoussi, the spokesperson of the UN mission said the current action is intended to “secure the civilian population, protect the civilians and reduce the influence of armed groups by forcing them to disarm.”

El Kandoussi spoke on Wednesday, Jan. 19, during the MINUSCA weekly press conference in Bangui. 

Revealing that the operation has already enabled the MINUSCA forces to chase away the CPC rebels from Boyo locality, El Kandoussi said “the populations of Boyo have warmly thanked MINUSCA for having liberated the town of armed groups,” adding that “nothing can stop the determination of the UN forces from always working for the protection of civilians.”

He added that “the Bambari operation aims at inciting a greater number of armed elements to join the disarmament, demobilisation, and reinsertion programme”.

Commenting on the security situation in the country, El Kandoussi underlined that “the security situation throughout the Central African Republic national territory remains relatively calm but unpredictable,” affirming that “MINUSCA continues to relentlessly work towards bringing back peace and stability to the Central African Republic and those committing war crimes would be brought before the competent jurisdictions.”

Also speaking during the press conference, Guy Karema, the MINUSCA officer in charge of communication, revealed that from 11 to 17 January, 2022, MINUSCA had documented 13 cases of abuse and violation of human rights and international humanitarian law affecting at least 43 victims.

“Though the number of incidents and violations documented this week remains stable as compared to last week, the number of victims has almost tripled because of two indiscriminate attacks in the prefectures of Haute-Kotto and Ouham respectively causing five deaths and 15 wounded on the one hand and three deaths and five wounded on the other,” Guy Karema revealed, adding that “the large majority of incidents, violations and victims documented this week are attributable to state actors.”

Besides monitoring activities, the officer in charge of communication signaled that the MINUSCA Division of Human Rights has continued its plea with the penitentiary authorities of Camp Roux where cases of COVID-19 have been detected in order that detainees would benefit from conditions of detention and medical assistance in conformity with international standards.

Karema indicated that on Jan. 18, 2022, the MINUSCA regional bureau in Paoua organised a joint mission with teams of communication and sensitisation of the Special Penal Court in Koundjili and Lemouna villages, two massacre sites in May 2019 which cost the lives of 22 persons and occasioned several rape and other exactions.

“This mission was within the preparation of the populations of the Paoua sub prefecture, who include families of victims, for the direct broadcasting of the trial of the authors of the crime and a campaign of multiform sensitization,” the MINUSCA official noted.

Capt. Sylvie Mazalo Agba,  the spokesperson of the MINUSCA police, indicated that the UN police continues to support the Central African Republic authorities in the fight against impunity in the country.

“On January 14, the UN police supported the transfer by UN flight of seven detainees, two of whom were women from the Paoua detention centre to Bouar detention centre on the demand of the State Prosecutor at the Paoua high court. Two other persons previously detained at the gendarmerie brigade of Ndele were transferred on January 11, 2022 to Bangui by UN flight so that they appear in court,” Capt. Agba said..

The spokesperson of the UN Police spoke of the meeting on Jan.12, 2022 between the Coordinator of the UN Police and the Director General of the Central African Republic police.

“Their discussions were centred on the different projects realized and those underway to the profit of the Central African Republic police, particularly in the domain of reinforcement of personnel and the equipment of certain police stations.”

There was also the question of the handing over of the police station of Mongoumba in the Lobaye prefecture and the organization of the selection and training of judicial police officers.”

“On this occasion, the Director General of the Central African Republic police saluted the evolution of the rehabilitation work on the Boali police station.”