Central African Republic: fear and worry in Nzacko after UPC attack against FACA

A first attack by UPC rebels on the same FACA position had resulted in 8 deaths in the ranks of the army and 4 on the side of the assailants on March 7 last, according to the Nzacko administration. This time it was eight soldiers and two rebels who lost their lives in this new assault, according to the same source.

Coming under fire from the assailants, the rest of the FACA had to retreat to the neighboring city of Bakuma or into the bush. Since then, the population, which fears being caught in the crossfire, lives in fear awaiting a counter-offensive by the army and its Russian ally.

"The population is very afraid, explains Laurent Samedi, one of the deputy mayors of Nzacko. They left for the forest because they heard rumors saying that the FACA and the Russians are going to come here for a new confrontation. So people left to hide in the forest."

The spokesman for the FACA general staff confirmed this attack. But Colonel Augustin Ndangokpayo was not yet able to confirm or deny this toll on Tuesday, an investigation still being underway to shed light on what happened four days ago, he explained.

For its part, MINUSCA says it has sent a patrol of its forces to Nzacko for two days now. But it is progressing slowly due to roads heavily degraded by the rainy season.