Renewed Heavy Fighting Between Rebel Groups and Government Soldiers
Since mid-December 2020, there has been armed unrest in the Central African Republic in the wake of the presidential election. Again and again, people flee to the hospital premises of Cap Anamur in Bossembélé.
February 2, 2021
While the situation in the Central African Republic had calmed down somewhat in the interim, unrest related to the presidential elections has been feared since the end of last week.
As a result, around 500 people from the region around Bossembélé again fled to the Cap Anamur hospital grounds. Not only do they receive safe housing in our hospital, but they are also provided with food and water. They also receive free medical treatment if needed.
January 21, 2021
After the armed unrest surrounding the presidential elections in the Central African Republic, the situation is slowly stabilizing again.
The people who had fled to the grounds of the Cap Anamur hospital in Bossembélé shortly before Christmas have returned to their home villages.
Yesterday we received an urgently needed shipment of medicine. Supplies to the hospital had been hampered by the clashes. Now we can offer free treatment to patients, which is very important for many people, especially in these troubled times.
December 22, 2020
Today we received a large shipment of food for the people seeking protection at Cap Anamur Hospital in Bossembélé. In addition to medical care, one of our tasks in such crisis situations is to provide people with food.
December 20, 2020
Since yesterday, a total of 2,000 people who fled the armed clashes between the rebel groups and the government soldiers are in the compound of Cap Anamur hospital. The people seeking protection are supplied with food by our employees on site.
Among the refugees are also injured people who need medical attention.
December 18, 2020
People flee the armed clashes in the region of Bossembélé to the hospital premises of the German aid organization Cap Anamur / German Emergency Doctors e.V.
Political background
Presidential elections are due to be held in the Central African Republic at the end of the year. In addition to incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadéra, other candidates have also declared their candidacy.
Among others, former President François Bozizé, who was deposed in 2013, also wanted to run as a presidential candidate. However, his candidacy was rejected by the election commission. Because of this rejection, François Bozizé joined forces with former military and rebel groups and is currently marching toward the capital Bangui. It is his intention to prevent the presidential election on December 27. Instead, a transitional government is to be formed in which he wants to be involved.
In the villages of Yaloké and Bossembélé, about 200 kilometers from Bangui, Cap Anamur / German Emergency Doctors e.V. operates two hospitals.
In this region, clashes between rebel groups and government soldiers have increased since Thursday, December 17. Both villages were captured 18. Dezember, von Rebellengruppen eingenommen.by rebel groups today, December 18. Many villagers have fled with their families because of the armed clashes.
Several hundred people also fled to the Cap Anamur hospital compound to protect themselves from the attacks. Cap Anamur’s project staff on the ground are currently coordinating the care of these people. They are in direct contact with the project coordinator in the office in Cologne/Germany.