In a recent escalation of the decade-long conflict, a town in northwest Central African Republic fell victim to a rebel attack on Thursday.
The assault, carried out by members of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), resulted in the tragic loss of at least five civilian lives. Moyenne Sido, located near the border with Chad, was targeted by the rebel alliance in the early hours before sunrise.
Mayor Salomon Yamindji, speaking via telephone, confirmed the attack and expressed his sorrow over the loss of innocent lives. The situation remains tense as authorities assess the extent of the damage and investigate further.
The CPC, an alliance of armed groups, has been involved in the ongoing conflict in Central African Republic. This incident underscores the persistent challenges faced by the nation in achieving peace and stability.
CPC militants are seeking to overturn the outcome of an election in December 2020 that saw President Faustin-Archange Touadera clinch a second term.
The army, backed by United Nations peacekeepers, Russian and Rwandan troops, has been fighting the group for years.
The UN has accused all parties of abuses including summary killings, torture, conflict-related sexual violence and the use of child fighters among others.
Mineral-rich Central African Republic has been mired in violence since a coalition of mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted then-President Francois Bozize in 2013, sparking reprisals from mostly Christian militias.
The CPC usually operates by attacking towns, villages and army posts.
They killed at least six soldiers in an attack on a military outpost in April last year and assaulted a city in the west of the country later in October.
