Highlights

• FACA and CPJP clash at Akoursoulbak
• Political bridge between CAR and the UN
• Response to polio cases in Paoua

Background and security

FACA and CPJP clashes
On the 12th of June, fighting broke out between the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) at the entrance of Akoursoulbak village 80 km north of Ndélé in CAR’s North-east.

A column of FACA vehicles came under fire in an ambush by the CPJP. According to the Central African authorities, the death toll is 3 on the FACA side and 15 on the CPJP side. FACA reinforcements have subsequently been deployed to the region as of the 14th of June to secure all exits from Ndélé town.

The Chairman of the CPJP’s political council Charles Massi has been held in detention in Chad for over a month, he is to be charged with the “attempted subversion of a country from neighbouring Chad” according to the Chadian authorities.

Self-defence group clashes with APRD
On the 9th and 10th of June, at the village of Kangatou 120 kms south west of Paoua, clashes took place between the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD) and elements of self-defence groups from Bilakaré village, about 20 kms from Kangatou in CAR’s North-west.

Some displaced people who had been returning to their villages in recent times in the region have now left their villages again. More than a hundred families fled to the city of Bocaranga from areas where there was fighting. These families have temporarily occupied the classrooms of Bocaranga high school.

News

Protection Cluster workshop
On the 8the and 9th of June, the Protection Cluster brought together national and international NGOs, public administration and representatives of displaced people for a workshop to re-frame the cluster’s objectives and reflect on a shared strategy of protection and government accountability.
Among the topics covered was the protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the challenges facing the cluster as well as its role in humanitarian reform.

According to the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Aminata Gueye, this workshop aimed to harness the two days’ ideas and energy in order to achieve greater results, given expertise and resources.

The representative of the Minister of State for Planning, Isabelle Gaudeuille, stressed the need to take into account all the needs and vulnerabilities of IDPs.

The recommendations of this workshop include conflict prevention, advocacy as well as capacity building for the safeguarding of human rights.

For more information: Charlemagne Kekou, UNHCR | (236) 75 02 38 77 | kekou@unhcr.org

CAR-UN political relation
On Thursday 11th June, CAR welcomed the United Nations Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Lynn Pascoe on a working visit.
The purpose of this visit was to review the state of political relations between the United Nations (UN) and the Central African Republic and to announce the imminent arrival of the new Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for the UN in CAR Sahle-Work Zewde.

Ambassador Pascoe held meetings with the Central African authorities to discuss the political and security situation, the process of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), Security Sector Reform, good governance as well as the evolution of development hubs around the country.

At the end of her visit to Bangui, the ambassador also held a working meeting with the staff of the United Nations Peace Building Office in CAR (BONUCA) and met with UN agencies’ representatives as well.

He also visited the base of the Peace Building Mission in CAR (MICOPAX).

For more information: Ms Touré Aissatou, BONUCA | (236) 75 50 85 95 | tourea@un.org

Health

Response to polio cases near Paoua
The national polio campaign took place between 6 and 9 June with a particular focus on the area of Nana-Barya (near Paoua) in response to 7 cases of polio which have been reported there in the last quarter.

The vaccination campaign also offered supplements of micro-nutrients, vitamin A as well as de-worming treatment with Mebendazole for children from 0-5 years.

With participation from partners such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) supporting NGOs such as Mentor Initiative, Extended Vaccination Programme and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), this campaign managed to achieve a vaccination reach of over 95%. The next campaign is set for 4 weeks time.

For more information: Dr Guy Ganguenon, Ministry of Health | (236) 72 75 75 46| guyganguenon@yahoo.fr

Coordination

Two new radio bases at Bangui and Ndélé
In the context of strengthening technical capacity of radio-communications in accordance with the Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS), the Telecoms Cluster has just completed the construction of 2 new radio rooms in Bangui and Ndélé thanks to financial support from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

The aim is to provide radio cover in areas where United Nations and NGO staff are at work and to strengthen security standards according to MOSS.

«Hand-over of Bangui radio room»

The project was carried out by the emergency telecommunications team from the World Food Program (WFP) who travelled over from Dubai to equip each radio room with a kit and a radio antenna for HF, 2 VHF antennas, a Thuraya phone and a BGAN. In order to be independent of the grid or generator, each room has been provided with solar panels which will store energy.

For more information: Leopold Happy, PAM | (236) 70 13 30 60 | leopold.happy@wfp.org

Contact Us :
Boris NGOUAGOUNI | (236) 70 18 80 61 | ngouagouni@un.org

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