In Bambari, in the center of the Central African Republic, a convoy of Russian paramilitaries from the Wagner group attacked the population while they were rehearsing the parade for the national holiday, December 1. Furious, some residents threw stones at the convoy, and the Central African internal security forces fired into the air to disperse the disgruntled people.
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The incident took place around 10 a.m. this Friday, November 29, on the main avenue of Bambari. Several hundred people gathered for rehearsals for the parade on December 1, the day of proclamation of the Republic, in 1958.
To prevent any overflow, the perimeter was cordoned off and traffic was diverted. “ As the exercise continued, a convoy of Russian paramilitaries from the Wagner group did not comply. Our security forces tried to divert their convoy, but they refused, continuing straight towards the participants », explains Abel Matipata, mayor of Bambari.
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This situation angered the crowd who initially blocked the passage before throwing stones at the convoy: “ To prevent this from escalating, the Central African security forces tried to repel the crowd with dissuasive fire. » specifies Abel Matipata.
No victims
No loss of life was reported, but the Bambari prefectural hospital treated 77 people, most of them women and children, who lost consciousness following the weapons detonations.
Activities resumed normally during the day. Neither the Central African government nor the Wagner group reacted.
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