Central African Republic: withdrawal of armed groups from the city of Bangassou
A Minusca vehicle patrols Bangui, December 22, 2020. (Photo illustration) AFP - ALEXIS HUGUET
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The armed groups left the town of Bangassou, one of the towns they had taken over, two weeks ago on January 3.
Bangassou is a town of around 40,000 inhabitants, located 750 km east of the capital Bangui, but a third of the population has fled in recent weeks.
According to several sources, the rebels left the city on the night of Friday to Saturday, January 16, after having looted the city center.
Publicity
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With our special
correspondent in Bangui,
Alexandra Brangeon
According to several officials, the armed groups began their withdrawal on Thursday, with the departure of at least five pick-ups and a dozen motorcycles and this withdrawal accelerated during the night from Friday to Saturday.
According to the mayor of the city, gunfire was heard around midnight.
The rebels then looted businesses in the city center, before leaving Bangassou on foot.
At least two department stores and several boutiques were completely ransacked.
"
The population is relieved
", indicates the bishop of Bangassou and will be able to start returning.
Nearly a third of the city's inhabitants fled the rebel offensive two weeks ago to find refuge, particularly in neighboring Congo.
The armed groups are said to have gone in different directions, including one group towards Bangui and another towards Niakari, 17km to the north.
It is impossible to say how many left the city, but this withdrawal is carried out then Rwandan soldiers arrived in Bangassou, two days ago, in reinforcement of the mission of the nations which is there.
A reinforcement because of the "
security challenges
", it is said on the side of Minusca.
We saw them pass in single file with a lot of things on their heads and therefore, the population is relieved because all the noise of bullets, of machine guns, of people firing in a disorderly fashion made them very afraid.
Juan José Aguirre, Bishop of Bangassou
Alexandra Brangeon
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Central African Republic
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