MINUSCA air intervention in Bambari
(B2) MINUSCA, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, had to make an air intervention on Sunday (February 26) “ to stop the offensive progression of about forty heavily armed elements (with AK47s and rocket launchers) of the coalition led by the Popular Front for the Renaissance of Central Africa (FPRC), north of the city of Bambari, in the center of the country, indicates a statement of the operation. This aerial intervention lasted only two hours, and resulted in seven wounded and one death in the ranks of the coalition.
Fight between armed groups
Since November 2016, rival armed groups, the FPRC and the UPC, former members of the Séléka coalition, and now enemies, have been fighting in the Bambari region for control of territory and for the collection of illicit taxes on the inhabitants. . Blue Helmets are stepping up interventions to avoid a general conflagration. Already on February 11, when a column of 300 fighters was heading towards the strategic town of Ippy, about sixty kilometers north of Bambari, a helicopter from the UN force had destroyed several vehicles of these rebels , thus halted in their progress.
UN warning
The UN force warned the coalition against any attempt to bring war to Bambari. MINUSCA “ use[a] all means at its disposal to avoid an escalation of violence that would endanger the lives of the civilian population ". Bambari was declared a “city without armed groups” following the departure of the UPC leader and other armed group leaders such as Gaétan and Tarzan. " Now, those who say they are going to drive us out of Bambari, and that they are going to enter it, I tell them that we are ready, that we are waiting for them firmly. I tell them "be careful, coming to Bambari will have its price. And it can be very expensive". And there, we will see who will return to Bambari ” declared General Balla Keita, military chief of MINUSCA, the day before the attack. A turning point? May be.
Deployment of blue helmets in Bambari
A joint deployment of United Nations forces and the legitimate Central African authorities is “en progress in order to establish the authority of the State in Bambari”. “There can therefore be no tolerance for any force other than that desired by the Central African State. Consequently, the presence of elements of the FPRC coalition in Bambari would constitute a flagrant violation of national and international law. said the Mission.
Three arrests
Three men from the FPRC coalition, Idriss Ahmed El Bashar, Yaya Idriss and Line Angou Aneser, were in the hands of the UN force. " The Central African judicial authorities, with the support of MINUSCA, will proceed with their interrogation on their presence in the vicinity of the city”.
(LH/NGV)
The future of UN missions is being played out in Bambari
Visiting Bambari on February 23, General Balla Keita, military chief of MINUSCA and former inspector general of the armed forces of Senegal, was very political. " The system, operational and tactical, is ready. It is above all a question of galvanizing men. The entire international community is watching us. The future of peacekeeping missions depends on what happens here in Bambari. I am there to explain to them that it was their responsibility, a great responsibility, not to fail. The world expects them to meet the expectations of the populations but also of the international community which sends peacekeepers here to protect. » See his declaration