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Reporting

Displaced CAR residents fear new wave of violence

December 17, 2017 | Adrienne Surprenant & Julia Steers | Al Jazeera

Alindao, in the region of Basse-Kotto, Central African Republic, has been the headquarters and operating base of Ali Darassa’s UPC (Union pour la paix en Centrafrique) since February 2017. The city used to have a population of approximately 20,000. Today, the site of the city’s Catholic church is home to nearly 28,000 IDPs, from Alindao and nearby villages.

Alindao, a bucolic city in the Central African Republic’s southeast that is home to farmers and artisanal miners, largely avoided violence during the country’s recent civil war.

But today, nearly 23,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) live on the outskirts of town, on the grounds of a Catholic Church. They fled from their destroyed homes in May, after fighting broke out between Christian groups and Muslim ex-Seleka fighters. Thousands more IDPs live in two other sites nearby.

Fearful that the tenuous calm will descend back into clashes, the displaced residents have not returned home, and new arrivals from surrounding villages turn up daily.

Their plight characterises the changing nature of the CAR conflict, which has evolved into a battle over resources. In the country’s north and southeast, deadly clashes between remnants of former armed groups are common, at the expense of civilians.

In early December, a fragile peace agreement between predominantly Muslim ex-Seleka groups and Christians broke, heightening fears that the violence will spread through the countryside.

“The IDPs come from the town and the nearby villages, and they had to run to avoid retaliation from different groups,” said Sebastien Loth, the mission head for Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, in Alindao. “There are too many armed groups to engage … to help the population [that is] most in need. The emergency is in the villages, just a few kilometres from Alindao.”

UPC fighters have used Alindao as a headquarters since United Nations peacekeepers pushed them out of the city of Bambari. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

UPC fighters have used Alindao as a headquarters since United Nations peacekeepers pushed them out of the city of Bambari. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
Emmanuel Ngadougou, a 38-year-old father of four, took refuge at the Catholic church in early May. An artisanal diamond miner who worked near Alindao, he says his family was attacked by Seleka fighters in May, leaving three of his family members dead and his house burned to the ground. He suffered a machete wound to the head and was left for dead in a pool of blood. 'I remember it so well and I'm always scared,' he said, noting he also remembers a time when people 'lived in perfect harmony'. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

Emmanuel Ngadougou, a 38-year-old father of four, took refuge at the Catholic church in early May. An artisanal diamond miner who worked near Alindao, he says his family was attacked by Seleka fighters in May, leaving three of his family members dead and his house burned to the ground. He suffered a machete wound to the head and was left for dead in a pool of blood. ‘I remember it so well and I’m always scared,’ he said, noting he also remembers a time when people ‘lived in perfect harmony’. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
An estimated 23,600 internally displaced people have moved to the grounds of the Catholic church since May 2017. The Christian population of Alindao fears returning to their homes. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

An estimated 23,600 internally displaced people have moved to the grounds of the Catholic church since May 2017. The Christian population of Alindao fears returning to their homes. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
The husband of Solange Yanga-Kotto, a 35-year-old mother of seven, was killed in front of her in May. She now lives at the Catholic church IDP site, struggling to care for her family alone. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

The husband of Solange Yanga-Kotto, a 35-year-old mother of seven, was killed in front of her in May. She now lives at the Catholic church IDP site, struggling to care for her family alone. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
The meat market used to be a focal point for the business community in Alindao, but today, few cattle are seen here. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

The meat market used to be a focal point for the business community in Alindao, but today, few cattle are seen here. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
Richard Aime Anga, 32, was at the butchery on the morning of May 9 when shooting started, and he left for his neighbourhood of Bangui Ville. On the way, he says he was attacked by Muslim fighters who cut his throat and yelled that he was a member of the anti-balaka, a Christian armed group. He survived and fled to the bush, where he stumbled upon Portuguese peacekeepers who brought him to the Red Cross. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

Richard Aime Anga, 32, was at the butchery on the morning of May 9 when shooting started, and he left for his neighbourhood of Bangui Ville. On the way, he says he was attacked by Muslim fighters who cut his throat and yelled that he was a member of the anti-balaka, a Christian armed group. He survived and fled to the bush, where he stumbled upon Portuguese peacekeepers who brought him to the Red Cross. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
At the Catholic church site in Alindao, an MSF emergency response team has tried to fill the gap left as health centres closed. Doctors say many patients are afflicted by malaria and malnourishment. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

At the Catholic church site in Alindao, an MSF emergency response team has tried to fill the gap left as health centres closed. Doctors say many patients are afflicted by malaria and malnourishment. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
Women and children wait to be examined at a health centre near the Catholic mission. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

Women and children wait to be examined at a health centre near the Catholic mission. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
A young girl prepares food for IDPs, some of whom are living between the houses of villagers. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

A young girl prepares food for IDPs, some of whom are living between the houses of villagers. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
For several weeks, as life has somewhat normalised in Alindao, locals say the displaced people living in UN-protected sites have been going out during the day to get food, wood and other basics. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

For several weeks, as life has somewhat normalised in Alindao, locals say the displaced people living in UN-protected sites have been going out during the day to get food, wood and other basics. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
An improvised market has sprung up at the centre of the Catholic church grounds. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

An improvised market has sprung up at the centre of the Catholic church grounds. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
Ardo Idrissa, 55, and his family, who are Muslim, live in the half-burned houses abandoned by the Christians who took refuge in the camps. They said they were attacked by anti-balakas in another village several times. They lost more than 100 cattle and came to Alindao to be protected by the UPC and the UN. Idrissa says they will 'stay here indefinitely' because of growing insecurity throughout the countryside. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

Ardo Idrissa, 55, and his family, who are Muslim, live in the half-burned houses abandoned by the Christians who took refuge in the camps. They said they were attacked by anti-balakas in another village several times. They lost more than 100 cattle and came to Alindao to be protected by the UPC and the UN. Idrissa says they will ‘stay here indefinitely’ because of growing insecurity throughout the countryside. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
Don de Dieu (Gift from God), a displaced nine-year-old, returned to his village with his two older brothers to get some food and belongings. They were attacked and his two brothers were killed on spot. Don de Dieu was shot twice in the arm and wounded in the abdomen; his arm was later amputated. 'If the government can disarm these groups, peace will become back,' said the boy's grandfather, Josue Bacha Nguerendji. 'But if arms are still in the hands of [the] population, peace will never come back totally.' [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

Don de Dieu (Gift from God), a displaced nine-year-old, returned to his village with his two older brothers to get some food and belongings. They were attacked and his two brothers were killed on spot. Don de Dieu was shot twice in the arm and wounded in the abdomen; his arm was later amputated. ‘If the government can disarm these groups, peace will become back,’ said the boy’s grandfather, Josue Bacha Nguerendji. ‘But if arms are still in the hands of [the] population, peace will never come back totally.’ ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
Very few international aid organisations operate in Alindao and none can access the surrounding villages. [Adrienne Surprenant/Al Jazeera]

Very few international aid organisations operate in Alindao and none can access the surrounding villages. ADRIENNE SURPRENANT/AL JAZEERA
About the Authors

Adrienne Surprenant

Adrienne Surprenant is a freelance photojournalist and member of Item Collective. Her work has been published by Paris Match, El Pais Semanal, The Globe and Mail, Espresso, and Le Monde… Read More.


Julia Steers

Julia Steers is a freelance reporter and producer based in Nairobi, Kenya covering east Africa and the Great Lakes region. Her work from the region has appeared in print and… Read More.

Original Publication
Al Jazeera
Related Topics
Conflict
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