Grimari is a city located in the

Ouaka Ouaka is one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. It borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo, covers an area of 49,900 km2, and has a population of 224,076 (2003 census), giving a population density of under 5 inhabita ...

prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...

Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...

, approximately away from the capital,

Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi ...

. The politician

Abel Goumba Abel Nguéndé Goumba (; 18 September 1926 – 11 May 2009) was a Central African political figure. During the late 1950s, he headed the government in the period prior to independence from France, and following independence he was an unsucce ...

was born in Grimari.

History

On March 1, 1910, Grimari replaced Pouyamba as the capital of the subdivision in the district of

Kémo Kémo is one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. Its capital is Sibut. Notable people * Andrée Blouin, political activist, human rights advocate, and writer See also * Lake Chad replenishment project * Waterway A ...

. This subdivision was attached to the constituency of Bambari from the 1st of January1920. In 1930, the African Textile Company set up a

ginning A cotton gin—meaning "cotton engine"—is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, enabling much greater productivity than manual cotton separation.. Reprinted by McGraw-Hill, New York and London, 1926 (); a ...

factory, this cotton company would become Cotonaf. After World War II, the administrative reform of October 16, 1946, made Grimari a district capital of the Ouaka-Kotto region. On January 23, 1961, the independent Central African Republic established the city of Grimari as the capital of the sub-prefecture. On April 13, 2014, the

Anti-Balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...

attacked the

Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél� ...

in Grimari with many people being killed and displaced. Anti-Balaka forces reportedly took control of the town. On August 31, 2016, Anti-Balaka forces in Grimari erected roadblocks preventing a

MINUSCA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA, which is an initialism of its French name Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en C ...

convoy from moving and forcing them to return to Bambari. In November 2016 Grimari was reported to be under control of security forces including police and gendarmerie. On March 15, 2020, Anti-Balaka forces attacked a MINUSCA base in Grimari, killing one peacekeeper. On August 3, Anti-Balaka forces attacked Grimari blocking roads to Sibut and Bambari. FACA managed to recapture the city the same day, killing one Anti-Balaka commander. On December 20, rebels from

Union for Peace in the Central African Republic Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC, french: Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique) is a rebel group in the Central African Republic which controls southern parts of the country. History UPC was formed on 17 September 2014 by Al ...

took control of the centre of Grimari after bypassing a MINUSCA roadblock. On January 9, 2021, rebels attacked Grimari. However, government forces were reportedly in control of the town. On January 15, rebels ambushed a Burundian peacekeeper in the town of Grimari, killing him and injuring two other Bangladeshi peacekeepers.UN peacekeeper killed in Central African Republic
/ref>

References

{{Sub-prefectures of the Central African Republic Sub-prefectures of the Central African Republic Populated places in Ouaka