9 Dead, Many Homes Torched in Central African Republic

BANGUI, Central African Republic — Tragedy struck in the northern Central African Republic earlier this week as an attack led to the deaths of nine individuals, with over 700 homes reduced to ashes. This violence was attributed to rebels from the 3R group, a self-defense militia that emerged during the civil war. The conflict reportedly stemmed from a disagreement related to the theft of oxen.

A fighter from the 3R, Habib Yacoub, claimed the militia aimed to protect marginalized herders. However, Nzoroh’s mayor, Bertrand Oudin Dimanche, expressed uncertainty about the true motivation behind the attack. Dimanche criticized the rebels for their disregard for human life, suggesting that political motives were at play, and voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to provide protection.

The central government expressed significant concern over this incident and indicated that a formal response would be forthcoming. The exact number of injured individuals was not immediately reported.

The attack, which occurred in the morning, left the local community devastated. Many residents fled to nearby villages, while others sought refuge in a larger town, according to Jean Robert Ngbadin, a volunteer with the local Red Cross in Ngaoundaye, a region bordering Cameroon and Chad.

Regional prefect Pierrette Benguere confirmed the death toll and expressed a desire for the government to address the situation by expelling the rebels and finding a resolution to the worsening humanitarian crisis.

The Central African Republic has faced ongoing conflict since 2013, when mainly Muslim rebels took control, resulting in the ousting of President François Bozizé. Although a peace accord was signed in 2019, it only marginally reduced hostilities, and half of the signatory armed groups eventually reneged on the agreement.

The Coalition of Patriots for Change, to which the 3R belongs, was formed in 2020 in the wake of the peace deal. Despite having rich deposits of gold and diamonds, the Central African Republic remains economically impoverished, with rebel factions impeding foreign mining ventures across the past decade.

The involvement of Russia-backed Wagner mercenaries in the country was initially intended to combat rebel factions and restore stability. However, these forces have faced allegations of human rights abuses while supporting the military government led by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who has governed since 2016.