Central African Republic: the army regains control of the strategic city of Kaga-Bandoro

Members of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), August 4, 2018, in Berengo.

(Illustrative photo) FLORENT VERGNES / AFP

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In the Central African Republic, the authorities welcome the fact that the national army and its allies, Russian in particular, have been able to enter Kaga-Bandoro.

This strategic commercial hub, located 300 km north of Bangui, had been in the hands of armed groups since 2014.

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With our special correspondent in Bangui,

Florence Morice

It was shortly before 5 p.m., Saturday April 10, that the Central African armed forces and their allies entered Kaga-Bandoro.

Shots were heard but no fighting was reported.

This offensive had been announced as an important objective for the authorities.

Part of the rebels who had been holding Kaga-Bandoro since 2014 had therefore already left the city recently, according to security sources.

As for those who were still there, they withdrew on Saturday evening without fighting, towards the North, in the direction of Kabo and Batangafo, according to several sources.

They are mainly members of the UPC of Al-Khatim, from the ex-Seleka and reputed to be heavily armed.

In 2019, after several failed attempts, the Central African army had sketched a timid return to Kaga-Bandoro, but its troops remained confined to their base, without carrying out an operation.

They even withdrew, says a security source, after an attack carried out as part of the CPC rebellion launched at the end of December.

Kaga-Bandoro hosts the largest cattle market in the Central African Republic, which makes it a strategic city, especially as the taxation of cattle is an important source of income for armed groups from the former Seleka.

► To read also: RCA: Russian mediation in Kaga-Bandoro

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  • Central African Republic