Archive image of Rwandan UN peacekeepers monitor the arrival of revel groups north of Bangui (AFP or licensors) WORLD
State of emergency declared in CAR A state of Emergency has been declared in the Central African Republic as the army and UN forces try to repel advancing rebel groups.
By Nathan Morley
Over 50,000 civilians have fled the Central African Republic due to recent fighting.
The rebel groups are determined to overthrow the government and now control two-thirds of the country.
Latest reports suggest they have surrounded the capital, Bangui.
The rebels have decried the victory of President Faustin Archange Touadéra's re-election last month and dispute the result.
The authorities have accused former President François Bozizé – who was barred from running in the last election – of adding fuel to the fire.
UN warning of grave risk for the nation
A state of emergency declared last night will last for the next two weeks. Meanwhile, the UN envoy in the country has warned CAR was ‘at grave risk.’
“We need an increase in our capacity in order to respond to this new threat which is destabilizing the country even further,” Mankeur Ndiaye, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country said.
Over 10,000 peacekeepers are already deployed in the CAR.
The French also have troops on the ground.
Listen to the report by Nathan Morley
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23 January 2021, 10:39
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