16 killed in a church in Bangui

At least 16 people were killed and nearly a hundred others wounded in a church attack in Bangui.

Gunfire exchanges on Tuesday in Bangui between an armed group and internal security forces left at least 16 dead and 96 wounded. The violence erupted as a member of the “General” Force’s militia attempted to force a barrage of internal security forces (ISF) at Notre Dame de Fatima parish.

The elements of the ISF opened fire on him resulting in a response from this armed group. According to Vladimir Monteiro, spokesman for the UN mission in the Central African Republic (Minusca) quoted by AFP, it is the attempt to arrest this man belonging to the militia of the “General” Force originated the violence.

Witnesses also confirmed to the BBC that everything started with “the arrest of a young person suspected of belonging to an armed group in front of the Fatima parish”. Shortly after his arrest, said parish was the target fired shots. It was around 10 am on May 1 when live ammunition was fired inside the church of Our Lady of Fatima killing some Christians including Father Albert Toungoumalet Baba.

Angry demonstrators set fire to the mosque in the 2nd district of Bangui and brought the dead bodies of Father Toungoumalet Baba and three other members of the Fraternité St-Joseph to the presidential residence.

“Minusca has deployed patrols to secure the area and other hotspots in Bangui,” said Minusca spokesman Vladimir Monteiro. So far, no official reaction has been recorded after this attack, which comes 3 weeks after the “Souloula” operation launched by MINUSCA peacekeepers and ISF to disarm KP 5 armed groups.