Siege of PK5 district

From 2013 to 2020, around 15,000 Muslims were been besieged in PK5 district in Bangui, Central African Republic.[2][3]

Siege of PK5 district
Part of Central African Republic Civil War (2012-present)

Map of armed groups in PK5 district in July 2018
Date5 December 2013 – 4 January 2020
(6 years, 4 weeks and 2 days)
Location
PK5 district, Bangui
4.375°N 18.538°E / 4.375; 18.538
Result Government victory
Belligerents

Muslim self-defense groups
ex-Séléka (2013–6)

"Tola" (armed merchants)

 Central African Republic

  • FACA
  • Police
  • Gendarmerie
United Nations MINUSCA		 Anti-balaka
Commanders and leaders

Niméri Matar “Force”  (DOW)
Abdoul Danda  †
Mohamed Tahir "Apo"  †
Haroun Gaye (escaped)
Abdoulaye Hissène (escaped)

Djibril Youssouf		 Central African Republic Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet
Central African Republic Catherine Samba-Panza
Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadéra
Central African Republic Mombéka Marcel  †		 Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona  Surrendered
Strength

185+ militants(2018)
400+ militants (2020)

200+ armed civilians (2020)		 Central African Republic 2,390 police and gendarmerie (2019)[1] Unknown
Casualties and losses
28+ killed United Nations 2+ killed Unknown
107,000 civilians displaced

Background

Before March 2013 about 122,000 Muslims lived in Bangui.[2] On 24 March 2013, the Muslim Séléka coalition captured Bangui.

Timeline

On 5 December 2013, the Christian Anti-balaka attacked Bangui. More than 50 bodies were brought to a mosque in PK5 district.[4] In December 2013, self-defense groups emerged in the PK5 neighborhood as a response to Anti-balaka attacks.[5]

MINUSCA soldiers in PK5 district, December 2015

On 26 June 2015, one of the leaders of PK5 self-defense groups, Haroun Gaye, forced a voter registration drive in PK5 to close. On 2 August 2015, MINUSCA, the United Nations peacekeeping force, tried to arrest him. Gaye's soldiers managed to repel the attacks of the international forces for seven hours using firearms, rocket launchers, and grenades, allowing him to escape. One peacekeeper was killed and eight were injured in the fighting.[6] On 25 September, in response to the murder of a Muslim driver, PK5 self-defense groups attacked Christian neighborhoods north of the enclave. Anti-balaka responded by erecting barricades, preventing UN soldiers from accessing areas plagued by violence. On 15 October, three people were killed and a dozen injured in clashes between Anti-balaka and self-defense groups after Anti-balaka fired at a group of Muslim boys playing soccer.[7] Between 26 September and 13 November, further clashes killed at least 100 people, displaced 35,000, and destroyed more than 1,075 buildings.[8]

On 30 November 2015, Pope Francis visited PK5 district, calling for an end to hostilities.[2] On 2 February 2016, after two years of school closures due to the poor security situation, it was reported that schools in PK5 would reopen and resume teaching the standard curriculum.[9] On 11 February, self-defense groups from PK5 and Boeing signed a non-aggression pact.[10]

On 19 June 2016, members of the "50/50" self-defense force abducted six policemen, demanding the release of their fellow fighters who had been arrested by security forces. On 20 June, clashes erupted between MINUSCA and militiamen resulting in seven deaths (three civilians and four militiamen) and one peacekeeper being injured.[11] On 12 August, 35 ex-Séléka fighters, including Abdoulaye Hissène and Haroun Gaye, withdrew from PK5.[12] On 4 October, the CAR police commander, Mombéka Marcel, was assassinated by PK5 self-defense groups.[13] On 30 October, heavy clashes erupted between the "Force" and "50/50" self-defense groups, resulting in 10 deaths including Abdoul Danda and Issa Kappi.[14]

On 7 February 2017, while security forces were trying to arrest militia leader Youssouf Malinga (aka "Big Man"), fire was exchanged between groups, resulting in two civilians and two militiamen (including Youssouf himself) being killed. In response, rebels murdered local pastor Jean-Paul Sankagui.[15]

On 17 January 2018, clashes erupted between the "Force" self-defense group and the "Tola" group of armed traders after merchants refused to pay taxes to the militiamen. 47 shops were damaged as a result.[16]

Failed disarmament operation
Protests against MINUSCA after the failed Operation Sukula

In the night between 7 and 8 April 2018, MINUSCA and FACA (CAR armed forces) launched "Operation Sukula" to disarm PK5 self-defense groups. Two militiamen were killed, 45 civilians and militiamen were injured, and 12 peacekeepers were wounded. A local police station was burned down by militia members following the departure of security forces. On 10 April, Rwandan peacekeepers engaged in a gun battle with a crowd of angry people, some of which were armed, who were protesting the abduction of a Fulani woman on the outskirts of PK5 district. 30 people were killed and 100 injured by Rwandan forces, while one Rwandan peacekeeper was killed and eight injured. Security forces withdrew from the area as a result.[17][18] On 11 January, demonstrations against MINUSCA were held, during which bodies of 17 people killed during clashes were displayed.[19]

On 1 May 2018, PK5 self-defense forces led by Amineri Matar (aka “Force”) stormed the Church of Fatima, killing 27 people and wounding 170.[10] On 6 May, Anti-balaka supported by security forces attacked PK5 district, but their attack was repelled.[20] On 20 May, it was reported that taxis will resume operation in PK5.[21] On 2 October, six people were killed (including three civilians and three militiamen) and 10 injured as a result of shootout between the "Force" and "Moussa Danda" militia groups. On 15 October, a pregnant woman was murdered by members of "Apo" group. On 24 October, two militiamen from "50/50" were injured following a shootout.[22]

On 1 June 2019, Niméri Matar, the leader of the PK5 self-defense groups, died of sickness.[23] On 10 July, heavy clashes erupted between members of militias, resulting in four people being killed and 26 injured.[24] On 29 November, two militiamen were killed as a result of clashes between fighters loyal to "LT" and "Kamba-ti-Wa". FACA soldiers were deployed in surrounding neighborhoods to secure fleeing people.[25]

Defeat of self-defense groups and aftermath

On 26 December 2019, militia members tried to force traders to pay tax on the sale of Christmas toys. In response one of the militants was stabbed to death. Heavy clashes erupted between both groups, with rebels burning the stores of some merchants. At least 35 people died and 50 houses were burnt.[26][27] On 31 December, the UN announced an arms free zone in PK5 neighborhood, forcing local fighters to lay down their weapons. On 4 January 2020, police returned to PK5 district for the first time in six years.[28] On 15 January, the UN claimed to have dismantled all 13 bases of "ex-self-defense" forces.[29] On 3 March, it was announced that regular tax collection would resume in PK5.[30] On 13 March, SODECA, the CAR water distribution agency, announced that access to water would be restored in PK5.[31]

On 22 October 2020, the CAR government launched a disarmament campaign in PK5 district. More than 400 militiamen and 200 civilians returned tens of automatic rifles, 104 bullets, and three shells. Around 30 ex-militiamen registered for the DDR process.[32] On 30 October, members of "Mujahideen" self-defense group looted a local house, stealing more than 150 million CFA Francs.[33] On 2 March 2021, two people were killed and six wounded after the military tried to arrest self-defense leader "Saddam".[34] On 2 May, he was arrested by security forces in Ramandji, a part of Bangui.[35] On 29 July, former PK5 militiaman "LT" was arrested after threatening police officers with a handgun.[36]

Self-defense groups
Niméri Matar, leader of PK5 groups in 2016
Armed militiaman in PK5 district in 2015
Group[17]FightersLeaderHeadquarters
Force ~80 Niméri Matar (2015–9)
Mahamat Rahamat "LT"(2019–)[37]		 ?
You ? Youssouf Ayatoulah Adjaraye Bulata
Apo ~30 Mohamed Tahir (until 2018)[38] Koudoukou Crossroads
50/50 ~50 Issa Kappy (until 2016)
Djido		 Cameroonian district
Moussa Kana ~25 Abdoul Danda (until 2016) Yakite Bridge

References
  1. "Letter dated 6 December 2019 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2454 (2019) addressed to the President of the Security Council". Security Council. 14 December 2019.
  2. "Pope Francis visits besieged mosque in Central African Republic". The Guardian. 2015-11-30. Archived from the original on 2022-08-18.
  3. "Siege on Capital's Muslims". Human Rights Watch. 28 March 2014.
  4. "Escalating bloodshed and reported revenge killings in Central African Republic". Amnesty International. 5 December 2013.
  5. Dukhan, Nathalia (August 2017). "Splintered warfare" (PDF). Enough Project.
  6. "Haroun Gaye". UN. 17 December 2015.
  7. "Tension dans le 3e arrondissement, au moins trois morts". RadioNdekeLuka. 16 October 2015.
  8. "Central African Republic: New Wave of Killings". Human Rights Watch. 26 November 2015.
  9. "Return to school in Central African Republic". Finn Church Aid. 2 February 2016.
  10. "Religious Freedom Report 2018: Central African Republic" (PDF). Aid to the Church in Need.
  11. "Volatile situation in CAR from 11 June 2016". UNHCR. 22 June 2016.
  12. "Letter dated 5 December 2016 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to Security Council resolution 2262 (2016) addressed to the President of the Security Council" (PDF). Security Council. 5 December 2016.
  13. "CENTRAFRIQUE / Le Commandant des FACA Mombéka Marcel et son aide camp, assassiné à Bangui". 4 October 2016.
  14. "Des heurts meurtriers à Bangui". BBC. 31 October 2016.
  15. "Militia chief among 5 killed in C.Africa clash". 8 February 2017.
  16. "In Central Africa, traders face off with militia over extortion demands". TimesLIVE. 1 February 2018.
  17. "Letter dated 23 July 2018 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2399 (2018) addressed to the President of the Security Council" (PDF). Security Council. 23 July 2018. p. 72.
  18. "Escalation of Violence in Bangui: Has MINUSCA Become Party to a Conflict in CAR, and What Would That Mean?". 16 April 2018.
  19. "Le regain de violences à Bangui fait au moins 18 morts, dont un casque bleu". Le Monde. 11 April 2018.
  20. "Centrafrique : reprise de combat au PK5, les Anti-balaka, appuyés par les FORCES DE DÉFENSE ET DE SÉCURITÉ tentent d'envahir le secteur à nouveau". 6 May 2018.
  21. "RCA: le retour des taxis au PK5 à Bangui". RFI. 20 May 2018.
  22. "Letter dated 14 December 2018 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic established pursuant to resolution 2399 (2018) addressed to the President of the Security Council" (PDF). Security Council. 14 December 2018.
  23. "Flash info : tirs d'armes au KM5". 3 June 2019.
  24. "CENTRAFRIQUE: QUATRE MORTS DANS DES AFFRONTEMENTS AU QUARTIER PK5 DE BANGUI". 12 July 2019.
  25. "2 morts dans un combat entre les miliciens d'autodéfense rivaux au PK5". 29 November 2019.
  26. "Clashes kill about 40 people in Central African Republic capital: local sources". Xinhua. 27 December 2019. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019.
  27. "Central African Republic traders in deadly battle over militia taxes in Bangui". BBC. 27 December 2019.
  28. "Police return to deadly area in C.A.R. capital - first time in six years". 4 April 2020.
  29. "Central African Republic: UN Peacekeepers Protecting Hundreds Displaced By Central African Republic Fighting". AllAfrica. 15 January 2020.
  30. "RCA : retour des services des impôts au PK5". JournalDeBangui.com. 25 March 2020.
  31. Sango, Ndjoni (16 March 2020). "RCA: les habitants de PK5 sensibilisés sur le branchement d'eau par la SODECA".
  32. "RCA : poursuite du désarmement volontaire dans le troisième arrondissement de Bangui". 23 October 2020.
  33. "RCA : violent braquage de la milice Moudjahidine à la résidence de la famille Aoudou Garba au KM5". 30 October 2020.
  34. RCA : deux morts et six blessés dans une tentative d’arrestation d’un suspect au KM5, 3 February 2021
  35. RCA : arrestation d’un général d’autodéfense du KM5 par la police, 2 May 2021
  36. Un ex-chef milicien du KM5 interpellé par la police, 28 July 2021
  37. Sango, Ndjoni (15 July 2019). "RCA: le nouvel homme fort du PK5, Mahamat Rahamat alias " LT ", successeur de " Force "".
  38. "Centrafrique : un chef de milice de Bangui tué par un commerçant". 25 November 2018.
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