UN peacekeepers have successfully reached the location of a horrific massacre that claimed the lives of 23 civilians on December 21st in the northwestern region of the Central African Republic.
Their primary objective is to restore order and security to the afflicted area.
The village of Nzakoundou fell victim to an attack orchestrated by armed factions associated with the 3R rebel group, resulting in the tragic loss of 23 innocent lives, as stated by the UN in a recent press release. Additionally, the village was reportedly set ablaze during the assault.
Vladimir Monteiro, the spokesperson for the UN’s MINUSCA mission in the Central African Republic, informed media that approximately 3,500 villagers fled into the surrounding bushland seeking refuge amidst the chaos.
Following an announcement made on Wednesday, the UN deployed peacekeeping forces to bolster security measures and facilitate the distribution of essential humanitarian aid, successfully arriving at the scene on Thursday.
The precise number of dispatched troops, comprising soldiers from Cameroon, Nepal, Senegal, and other nationalities, remains undisclosed. Further reinforcements from additional nations are expected to join the mission.
The Central African Republic has been plagued by a civil war since 2013 when the Seleka, a predominantly Muslim armed coalition, ousted former President Francois Bozize. Bozize, in response, formed the anti-Balaka, primarily Christian and animist militias, to regain control.
Throughout this protracted conflict, civilians have borne the brunt of the violence, with the United Nations leveling accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity against all involved parties.
The 3R stands as one of the potent armed groups spawned by this conflict, although recent years have seen a decline in the intensity of hostilities.
In late 2020, President Faustin-Archange Touadera, with the assistance of Russian paramilitaries, successfully repelled a rebel coalition’s siege on the capital, Bangui. Nevertheless, certain remote regions of the country remain beyond the government’s control.
Previously aligning with entities like the Russian group Wagner, Bangui now seeks to diversify its strategic partnerships and is reportedly engaging in discussions with the US private military company Bancroft.