UN has reported a significant increase in the number of explosive devices in the Central African Republic (CAR), especially in north-western CAR, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
During the presentation of the weekly MINUSCA press briefing on Radio Guira FM, the United Nations radio station in CAR, the spokesperson for the MINUSCA Force, Major Zouhair El Kandoussi, indicated that since the beginning of the ‘year, “five explosive devices were discovered, two of which did not explode, and three exploded on vehicles of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and MINUSCA”, promising to continue cleaning up the infested areas, the agency said.
The MINUSCA Force spokesperson denounced this “new tactic which had not been demonstrated by the elements of the 3R group before”, and which aims to prevent the peacekeepers and the FACA in the execution of their mandate. . “Two explosive devices discovered were near Babaza on December 31, 2021, another was discovered in the village of Nzakoundou on January 2, 2022, two other explosive devices damaged MINUSCA vehicles near Bohong, on December 30 and 31, 2021, Specified Major El Kandoussi. According to the latter, “it is estimated that members of the 3R group set up these unidentified explosive devices to target FACA wheeled vehicles and MINUSCA peacekeepers”.
To do this, “the elements of MINUSCA will anticipate such tactics in possible attacks by the 3R group”, he reassured. In addition, Major Zouhair El Kandoussi noted “a relatively calm but unpredictable security situation throughout the country”, regretting that this week in Bangui, crime continues to be a serious concern in the city. “MINUSCA continues to work tirelessly to restore peace and stability in the Central African Republic and those who refrain from war crimes will be brought before the competent courts,” he warned.
For his part, the communications officer at MINUSCA, Guy Karema, returned to the concerns of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown, on the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the prefecture of the Ouaka, especially in the locality of Boyo, after a mission in the locality on January 6, the statement added. According to Denise Brown, “various armed elements entered Boyo and on the spot, there are allegations of assassination, houses have been destroyed, farm equipment and seed stocks stolen” , while insisting on respect for civilians. , during armed conflicts.
According to the observation made by the Deputy Special Representative, the school has not been functional for two years in the locality due to insecurity, and the health center faces a serious drug problem, the statement read.
“Security is not yet total in these localities, so there is serious work to be done” , she indicates, before adding that “the message of the population is that we stay by their side.
MINUSCA deployed the Nepalese contingent which did an excellent job in managing an extremely complicated conflict situation while protecting the population, ” Brown said.
The Deputy Special Representative insists on respect for civilians in armed conflict, because,“Civilians are not part of the conflict. To attack them because of their belonging to a community is contrary to the principle of International Humanitarian Law. It is therefore important to respect civilians and leave them out of the conflict ” .
The communications officer at MINUSCA, Guy Karema, also reviewed the human rights situation in the country, according to the statement. He said that the Mission recorded and documented 7 incidents of abuse and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law affecting at least 15 victims, between January 4 and 10, 2022. ” also add 10 alleged incidents, representing 14 violations of human rights and humanitarian law that allegedly affected 21 victims, ”said Guy Karema, adding that”All of the incidents, violations, and victims documented this week are attributable to state actors, with the exception of the 8 victims in Nana-Mambéré, who lost their lives or were injured by stray bullets during clashes between state actors and armed groups ” .
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