On patrol with the police

(BRUSSELS2) Camp Ucatex, in Bangui, in the 8th district, headquarters of the European force EUFOR RCA, it is not far from 13 p.m., local time, this Saturday. The morning rain is moving away. The sun is starting to beat down seriously. It's time for the final briefing before departure for the gendarmes, from the mobile gendarmerie of Satory (in the Paris region), who will end their three-month commitment in the Central African Republic in a few days.

It begins with a brief description of the patrol, by car and a little on foot, as well as the route followed. The circuit of these patrols is not fixed. It is defined each day, generally the day before, depending on the security situation or the objectives to be met. Then come the specific instructions: traffic speed - which will be adapted as needed depending on the terrain - the safety instructions, the "hot" points crossed.

Materials checked

Last thing before leaving, checking the equipment. Chargers, radio, tourniquet, each piece of equipment is checked. Each gendarme has his Famas slung over his shoulder, the SIG handgun, the classic of the Gendarmerie endowment, in the case. A Minimi (Belgian-made 5,56 machine gun) completes the whole thing. An armament intended to deal with any possible incident. Everyone is equipped with a bulletproof vest. Obligatory... including for the B2 journalist (with 15 kg on his back, and the helmet, it weighs...).

A multi-pronged patrol

The object of the mission can also vary. It could be just a verification or the securing of routes until picking up a suspect (with the Central African police), through the collection of information. The roadmap, this time, is to go to the 5th arrondissement, which is mostly Christian, to see the situation, a few days after the incidents, to check that the routes are clear. A small foot patrol in one of the districts of the 5th to "feel" the atmosphere. And, finally, a checkpoint at the limit of the 2 arrondissements (the 3rd and the 5th) which the European force provides security.

On the way...

Most of the patrol this time will be by car. Foot patrols are a little rarer in recent days, to avoid any risk of being taken to task. Similarly, mixed patrols with Central African police or gendarmes are, for the time being, suspended. Central Africans are not really equipped to deal with serious incidents, with firearms. The Central African law enforcement forces (CRS type) have no bulletproof vests and very few weapons (read article to come).

Check free movement

First observation, positive. No barriers on the roads or obstructions in the paths. It still happens. During another patrol, with General Pontiès, on Sunday, we had the opportunity to realize this. Second good sign, motorcycles circulate, sometimes with customers on the seat. Small merchants are installed on the road. There are few customers but probably more because of the economic situation. A little far away, a crowd, peaceful, a television broadcasts the match of the European league.

abandoned houses

Sometimes a void: a concrete slab and a few stones. At these places, there were houses. They have been " destroyed during the events of December », explains a policeman. And, the inhabitants did not return. For the time being, there is often nothing left, apart from a bit of concrete and the grass that is growing back. The roof (in sheet metal), the stones, the wood were recovered.

A just distant population

There are few specific gestures, a little indifference, questioning looks, greetings, sometimes more rarely a pointing finger. For children, it is always a curiosity. They come to greet, all smiles. The rest of the population goes about their business, in front of their house, walks to reach their destination from point to point. But there's not really a crowd in the street. The foot patrol makes it possible to realize this. The population is not hostile. There are smiles, cautious. We can talk to one of the locals. But some distance.

Precautions for use

Near the district boundaries (near the 3rd), the vehicles line up, two by two, in staggered rows to set up the checkpoint. The "minimi" machine gun is put in position to hold the avenue. One or two gendarmes are in the background. " We remain suspicious explains the patrol leader.

"European Gendarmerie: can you open your safe"

Vehicles are stopped in a similar way to what happens in mainland France. Only the message changes after the greeting: “ European Gendarmerie »! But the question here is not whether the papers are in order. " Nobody really has paper in order » or to know if the rules of conduct are respected. Motorcycles with 3 passengers are not uncommon. " We even found some with 6 passengers ". What interests the gendarmes is the presence of weapons: AK47 rifles, bullets, grenades. Vehicle drivers are asked to open their trunks, glove boxes and all places where weapons or grenades could be hidden. Motorcycle drivers are no exception. " Favorite caches are under the seat. (...) Our predecessors found them regularly when they carried out disarmament operations. Today it is rarer », Recognizes my guide. " Those who have weapons have carefully stashed them away to be able to use them eventually” et avoid walking around with it. " We only find weapons on information ". Despite everything, mistrust is in order. EUFOR were warned that after the incidents on Wednesday (October 15), the AB (=Anti-Balakas) were seeking revenge.

Volatile situation,

We're going back. Mission completed for today. Caution remains in order. The situation is very volatile indeed. I can see it for myself. The radio spits. Shooting in the 3rd arrondissement. Not far from here. The cops stay alert. But nothing more... This type of shooting happens regularly. It could be all just a young man trying his gun " or " a shot in the air. This happens often ". But also a bigger incident. The difficulty is that there is no incident that resembles another” a soldier will tell me later. Sometimes it's a settling of accounts between crooks ". Sometimes these are fights between communities or neighbours. More rarely, it is a blow directed against international forces. On August 20 it was the case, says a gendarme a veritable ambush, an ambush made to kill ". The Europeans have also been warned of possible actions directed against the international force. Hence the increased precautions in recent days...

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde, in Bangui)