During May 2017, a series of clashes occurred in the

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 ...

town of Bangassou between Anti-balaka militias and

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 Ce ...

forces.

History

On 13 May 2017 around 600 to 700 Anti-balaka fighters entered Bangassou attacking MINUSCA base and Muslim Tokoyo neighborhood. They started pillaging the city and attacking Muslim residents. More than 3,000 people escaped their homes seeking refugee in a hospital, cathedral and mosque. Anti-balaka besieged mosque sheltering more than 1,000 people. On 15 May MINUSCA forces managed to recapture key points in the city freeing hostages from mosque. In the following days more than 115 bodies were found in the city. One MINUSCA peacekeeper from

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...

was also killed.

Responsibility

On 7 February 2020, two and a half year after Bangassou clashes five Anti-Balaka commanders and 23 militiamen were sentenced for years in prison. They were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms and murder.

References

{{Reflist Central African Republic Civil War May 2017 events in Africa Mbomou 2017 in the Central African Republic Conflicts in 2017 Massacres in the Central African Republic