CAR: Peacekeeper killed in Mambéré-Kadéï Nov. 16

Event

At approximately 21:00 (local time) on Friday, November 16, unidentified gunmen attacked a United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) base in the town of Gbambia (Mambéré-Kadéï region). According to reports, one UN peacekeeper was killed in the attack. The identity of the assailants remains unknown as of Saturday, November 17.

Context

The Central African Republic (CAR) has suffered recurrent bouts of civil conflict since December 2012, which has led to hundreds of deaths and almost 700,000 IDPs, and has pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Chad. Clashes between various armed groups continue to be reported on a regular basis despite the June 2017 signing of a ceasefire agreement between the CAR government and rebel groups present in the country.

Advice

Individuals present in CAR are advised to monitor local developments, maintain a high degree of situational awareness, and remain vigilant for potential militant activity. In general, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country for various security reasons, including the presence of armed groups and ongoing conflicts.