Central African Republic: tensions between Bangui and the UN after the strafing of the Minusca bus
Relations between the Central African government and Minusca are very tense after the strafing of a minibus of UN soldiers in Bangui on November 1, 2021. Florent Vergnes AFP / Archivos
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Tension is mounting between the government and the United Nations (UN).
Monday, November 1, 10 peacekeepers were injured by shots fired by the presidential guard near the home of the Head of State in Bangui.
The UN bus ended up at the site by mistake and came under heavy fire without warning before hitting a young girl in her flight, who was killed, according to an angered Minusca statement. of the Central African government.
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With our correspondent in Bangui,
Carol Valade
"
The perpetrators of this criminal attack must be immediately arrested,
" wrote the head of Minsuca, Mankeur Ndiaye, on the social network Twitter Wednesday, November 3,
two days after the incident
in which 10 peacekeepers were injured by bullet and a young girl died.
"
May responsible justice be rendered to (the young girl)
", replied on the same channel the Central African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sylvie Baïpo Temon, adding that the victim was "
mown down following non-compliance with regulations
".
The perpetrators of this criminal attack on peacekeepers must immediately be arrested #Minusca https://t.co/aaFSu5okr4
- Mankeur Ndiaye (@ndiayemankeur) November 3, 2021
The Central African government questions the error of the route and justifies the shots by explaining that the peacekeepers have tried to take photos of the residence of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
Version against version, press release against press release,
the deterioration of relations
between Bangui and the UN mission marks a new step.
Minister Sylvie Baïpo Temon says in a press release that the peacekeepers broke the rules and are therefore responsible for the girl's death.
According to the government, the shots fired by the presidential guard targeted the vehicle's tires.
In the photos that are circulating, we can see the minibus - stamped United Nations - riddled with bullets, the windows shattered, the ground covered in blood.
"
The message (of the government) does not reflect reality,
" laments Minusca, which refuses the joint investigation proposed by Bangui.
"
La Minsuca will make its own investigations
" and the government its own, indicates the spokesperson for the UN mission.
Sylvie Baïpo Temon asks for a "
review of the obligations of the two parties
" during the debate on the renewal of the mandate of Minsuca, expected in a few days in New York.
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Central African Republic
Minusca
UN
Faustin-Archange Touadéra