Central African Republic: Minusca on "maximum" alert to secure the capital
Audio 01:17
A patrol of the Minusca force in Bangui, Central African Republic, February 12, 2016. (Illustration) AP - Jerome Delay
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
A few days before the December 27 elections, the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations said it was determined to ensure that "nothing will prevent the electoral process" in the Central African Republic.
On the spot, Minusca is on “maximum” alert to repel rebel attacks carried out in several localities since Friday and to secure the capital Bangui, against a background of rumors and concerns.
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With our special
correspondent
Florence Morice
and our correspondent in Bangui,
Charlotte Cosset
The streets of Bangui were
surprisingly empty on Wednesday morning
.
At dawn, the rumor of an imminent arrival of rebels created a wave of panic.
“
Normally at this time of day there is more traffic.
People panic very easily here.
All it takes is a rumor to see locals running in all directions.
But after a few hours, the situation returns to normal
”, explains Dimitri Chop, the communications officer of the joint force of Minusca in Bangui.
During this sensitive period, special patrols crisscross the city 24 hours a day, on foot or by vehicle, depending on the alerts.
"
When we have any doubts about information, we send special patrols to check and ensure security,
" adds Dimitri Chop.
“
The special patrols try to choose different roads in order to control the different directions to control safety not only on the main roads but also on the small roads of the city,
” he explains.
300 police officers, gendarmes and soldiers mobilized
For Brigadier General Driss Oukaddour, commander of the Bangui Joint Force, one of the biggest challenges for his teams is sorting out and verifying rumors.
“
What we can fear more is having false information, a lot of false information;
it gives a lot of work over time and makes the task a little difficult,
”he concedes.
Rumors have a particularly important impact on populations who fear
reliving the events of 2013
.
In total, 300 police, gendarmes and soldiers are mobilized with particular attention to strategic places
for the holding of the vote
.
"
A concerted plan with the Central African armed forces
", underlines the commander of this mixed force, Brigadier General Driss Oukaddour.
On the other hand, with the Russian and Rwandan reinforcements arrived recently, contacts and collaboration are absent, notes the commander.
► To read - Central African Republic: what you need to know about the crisis and its actors
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Central African Republic
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