CAR: Republic Day celebrations planned December 1

Event

Proclamation of the Republic Day celebrations are planned throughout the Central African Republic (CAR) on Friday, December 1. Consequent heightened security measures, and associated traffic disruptions, are expected in several cities in CAR on Friday, particularly in Bangui.

Context

In 2016, Proclamation of the Republic Day celebrations resumed in CAR after a three-year hiatus. The pause in celebrations was due to general instability and insecurity brought on by a coup in March 2013.

Despite a relative improvement to the situation, the overall security climate remains precarious in CAR, where religious conflicts have ravaged the country since December 2013. Despite a ceasefire signed between 13 rebel groups and the government on June 19 of this year, clashes remain frequent throughout the country. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths, created almost 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad.

Advice

Most Western governments advise against nonessential travel to Bangui and against all travel to the rest of the country (particularly the northern provinces of Mambéré-Kadéï and Ombella-Mpoko and the eastern provinces of Nana-Grebizi, Ouaka, Basse-Kotto, Bamingui-Bangoran, Haute-Kotto, Mbomou, Vakaga and Haut-Mboubou) due to security concerns.