The security situation deteriorated sharply on Friday 18 December in the Central African Republic, nine days before the presidential and legislative elections. Several cities in the western part of the country have been attacked by members of various armed groups, according to the UN. La Minusca has deployed significant reinforcements there, saying it is on “high alert” in other regions, including the capital Bangui.
With our special correspondent in Bangui, Florence morice
UN mission in the Central African Republic (Minusca) condemns a series of “concerted attacks” designed to “prevent” the possession of elections scheduled for December 27. According to confirming sources, several places in the western country were raided on Friday by armed men.
The UN says it has used reinforcements in Bossemptele and Bossembele, 150 kilometers northwest of Bangui, and says the Bozoum and Yaloke sites have also been targeted. She attributes these attacks to elements from three armed groups: 3R, MPC and anti-balaka.
According to the UN, two members of government forces were killed in the Yaloke attack. Acts that do not go unpunished according to the UN. Fatou Bensouda, the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, is monitoring the situation closely.
Tensions rose following the annulment of François Bozizé’s candidacy and his meetings with armed groups
In the afternoon, security sources also reported unusual movements of armed men elsewhere in the country, on various shafts serving Bangui. La Minusca says it is on “maximum alert” and has been deployed at various strategic points for the capital.
In her press release, she also states that “security incidents have increased and intensified” in the Central African Republic “after the annulment of the candidacy of former President BozizéIn the presidential election and after the later “meetings” with leaders of armed groups.
On Wednesday, several of these groups, among the most important, threatened in a joint statement to use “all means of coercion” against Faustin Archange Touadera, if he continued to organize the vote. They accused him of having prepared a choice. There was no official reaction from the authorities on Friday night, but behind the scenes, regional and international diplomats are intensifying initiatives to try to calm the situation.
.
