‘In turmoil again’: Central African Republic unrest spreads
ZEMIO, Central African Republic — No soldiers or police patrol this remote town in the far southeast of Central African Republic, where armed groups have attacked several times in the past few months. A company of U.N. peacekeepers here ventures no more than three miles (4 kilometres) from their base.
Local authorities’ requests for more help to secure the area have gone unanswered as Central African Republic’s deadly sectarian violence moves closer to the region along raw dirt roads. The town of 10,000 people feels increasingly unsafe, community leader Pierre Yakanza said.
The violence has killed hundreds in the past month and is spreading through parts of the country far from the capital, Bangui. The U.N. peacekeeping force of 12,000 troops is not enough to protect civilians.
“With just the U.N., it’s not enough. It can’t secure the people 100 per cent,” Yakanza said. “We don’t know what’s coming.” Some people have fled to Congo, a few kilometres’ walk away.