Central African Republic

I was in the Central African republic from beginning of October until December 21st 2013. Through my images I want to show the escalation of violence until the coup attempt and then the consequences of it on the population. The Seleka, mostly Muslims, this opposition group takes power in the Central African Republic in April following a coup.  they spread chaos all over the country, forcing tens of thousands to flee their home to take refuge from the exactions and murders carried out by the Seleka. As a response to the exactions, militias groups formed themselves across the country and took up weapons to fight the Seleka. On December 5th,  the Anti Balaka attacked Bangui to take the power from the Seleka, but they retreated because of lack of artillery within half a day. In order to take their revenge, the Seleka went door to door in Bangui to massacre non-Muslim civilians accusing them of supporting the Anti Balaka. Over 600 people are said to have been killed. Following the intervention of the French troops on December 9th, the Seleka are cantoned. Therefore, and following the massacre that took place the previous days the Non- Muslim started to take their revenge by killing whoever they thought was muslim or part of the Seleka, looting their shops and destroying mosks.

Central African Republic

A young boy imitates the soldiers’ march on National Day. Following rumors of a possible coup attempt, the transitional president Djotodia decides to cancel the celebrations of the National Day. Bangui, Central African Republic, December 1, 2013

After the Seleka killings of military soldier Tanguy Residou on November 15 and magistrate Modeste Bria on November 16, young people demonstrate in the streets of Benzeville district in Bangui. The Seleka forces quickly arrived and opened fire, killing two people and injuring three others. Central African Republic, 17 November 2013.

RCA – Bangui, November 17, 2013, in response to the assassination of Magistrate Bria and a soldier by the Seleka, in Bangui, Central African Republic, the youth manifest by demanding the resignation of President Djotodia. A few minutes later, the Seleka intervene and shoot into the crowd, killing two people and injuring another.

CAR – Bangui, November 22, 2013, a peaceful march is taking place in the streets of Bangui, Central African Republic, in response to the death of Judge Bria, a symbol of peace and fairness for Central Africans. The death of this magistrate is a turning point for the population, because it shows that the Seleka also attack the representatives of the Justice. The march is banned by the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Binoua, but the magistrates decide to protest anyway, and they demand the resignation of the president and his government.

A family mourns the death of a stabbed child. He was attacked by young people from the Muslim neighborhood during the night of December 8 to 9, 2013. Bangui, Central African Republic, December 9, 2013

Morning prayer in Bangassou Cathedral. Central African Republic, 9 October 2013.

CAR – Bangui, December 9, 2013, more than 18,000 refugees have settled in a training center in Don Bosco district in Bangui, to flee violence in the streets.

CAR – Bangui, October 25, 2013, in the Muslim neighborhood of Bangui, called “5 kilo”, a young man buys bread at the local bakery, to sell in the streets. Since the Seleka took power in the Central African Republic, residents have fought daily for survival. There is no more work in Bangui and very few companies. Young people have no choice but to find odd jobs to eat.

The judicial world on strike demands the resignation of the president of the transition, Michel Djotodia. Immediately after the murder of Judge Modeste Bria by Seleka members on 16 November 2013, three men allegedly guilty of the crime were brought before the family of the deceased and executed without prior investigation or presentation of any tangible evidence. Bangui, Central African Republic, November 29, 2013

CAR – Bangui, December 16, 2013, French troops patrol the Muslim neighborhood of Bangui.

CAR – Bangui, 4 October 2013, a Seleka soldier dressed in civilian clothes threatens to shoot in the crowd, while the FOMAC starts the demilitarization of Bangui.

CAR – Bangui, November 28, 2013, a Muslim family is preparing to cross the road at PK5, the Muslim neighborhood of Bangui, Central African Republic.

CAR – Bangui, March 15, 2014, Muslims who had been waiting for weeks at Mpoko transit camp, take the truck to the Cameroon border. The owner of the truck, also a Muslim, offered to take them away because they have no money to leave the country and risk their lives by staying in the city

CAR – Bangui, March 24, 2014, the anti-Balaka block the main road to the city center with makeshift barricades. They do not pass any car for more than 48 hours.

The members of the Seleka are stationed. As a result of this decision, throughout the city, Christian groups began to take revenge for the killings of hundreds of them the previous day, looting the property of Muslims and burning mosques. Central African Republic, December 10, 2013.

Fleury Domana, a twenty-year-old mother of a two-year-old girl, was fatally injured in a grenade explosion. Two members of the Seleka used this weapon to disperse the crowd chasing them, killing the young woman by the way: they had just tried to steal a bike and were trapped in the shop where they were. were refugees, held by a Chadian. Bangui, Central African Republic, November 16, 2013.

Bangui, November 29, 2013, a Muslim at Friday prayers at Bangui’s main mosque.

Bangui, Tuesday, December 5, 2013, following the attacks on the general hospital of Bangui, dozens of people are brought to the hospital for treatment. The Seleka control the hospital and try to prevent Christians from being treated

A soldier from the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (Misca) is monitoring the anti-balaka militias after a night of civilian slaughter. Bangui, Central African Republic, December 20, 2013.

Several hundred people were killed in Bangui: bodies are still lying on the ground. Central African Republic, December 20, 2013.

Bangui, March 25, 2014, Congolese MISCA soldiers patrol Bangui’s PK4 to bring down the barricades set up by anti-Balaka so that supply trucks can enter the city again.

The contingent of the African-led International Central African Support Mission (Misca) overthrew the barricades and used tear gas against the anti-balaka. Bangui, February 19, 2014

A French soldier is aiming at an agitator, while two boys are hiding behind the wall of a house. Bangui, Central African Republic, February 16, 2014.

In the Gobongo district, Chadian soldiers from the multinational force of Central Africa (Fomac) fired on civilians during the night. A woman is mourning the loss of her brother. The Chadian elements of the Fomac have been accused of colluding with the Seleka against the anti-balaka. Bangui, Central African Republic, December 20, 2013.

Inhabitants of the Fighting District – then in full swing – knees on the ground and hands up during a patrol of the International Mission to Support the Central African Republic under African leadership (Misca). Bangui, February 19, 2014

Two bodies were transported to Ali Babolo Mosque following an anti-balaka incursion that killed five people that morning. The PK5 district, regularly attacked, is one of the last Muslim enclaves in Bangui. Central African Republic, February 25, 2014

At the funeral of the Central African armed forces soldier Tanguy Résidou, a former member of the presidential guard of François Bozizé, killed by Seleka elements. Bangui, Central African Republic, November 15, 2013.

A young Central African woman is alone in her home while soldiers from the multinational force of Central Africa (Fomac) search the area for weapons. Bangui, Central African Republic, 4 October 2013.

Displaced Camp of Bossangoa. Central African Republic, November 20, 2013.

In the district of Boy-Rabe, anti-balaka enclave, two men mourn the death of their brother. Bangui, Central African Republic, December 7, 2013.

Musicians prepare for worship in one of the Protestant temples of Bangui. Central African Republic, November 3, 2013.

Displaced welcomed in one of the Don Bosco parish centers of Bangui. Central African Republic, December 8, 2013

President Djotodia announced that calm was restored in Bangui and residents could safely return to their homes. That’s what this young man wanted to do. He was killed by members of the Seleka neighborhood and his body was found a few meters from his home in the gutter. His family mourns the loss of a son and a brother. Central African Republic, December 9, 2013.

On December 5, 2013, columns of anti-balaka militia attack Bangui to end the former rebels of the Seleka who, having seized power by force on March 25, 2013, have not ceased to commit abuses in the country. The same evening, the attackers withdrew from the city, leaving the field open to their opponents: during the following night and the day, the members of the Seleka pass from house to house and kill all those who think they are bound to the anti -balaka. Dozens of dead bodies are transported to the morgue of the Bangui General Hospital. In total, more than 130 corpses, mostly Christians, are collected there in one day, and about 60 others at the Ali Babolo mosque, in the Muslim quarter of the capital. It is estimated that about 600 people died in these two days. Bangui, Central African Republic, December 6, 2013.

The attack by an anti-balaka militia near the town of Boali on December 2, 2013 turned into a massacre, killing 12 people, including 10 women, and 14 wounded children. The latter are transferred to Bangui, but the spokesman of the Central African presidency, Guy Simplice Kodégué, makes them wait for two hours before allowing their care in the hospital, and until the arrival of the media, President Michel Djotodia and the Prime Minister. Bangui, Central African Republic, December 3, 2013

At the funeral of soldier Tanguy Résidou, a former member of the presidential guard François Bozizé assassinated by Séléka, a woman soldier is overwhelmed by emotion. Bangui, Central African Republic, November 15, 2013.

This soldier, incorporated into the Seleka contingent integrated into the new Central African Armed Forces, arrives in Bangassou just after the arrest of “Colonel” Abdallah. The latter, at the head of about thirty men of the Seleka, sowed terror among the population for months. Bangassou, Central African Republic, 8 October 2013.

Bodies strew the streets of Bangui. The Seleka forces took revenge all night and all day of the anti-balaka attack the day before. Central African Republic, December 6, 2013

Confined in a base with 500 other Seleka fighters, a man in arms reads. Bangui, Central African Republic, February 25, 2014.

In the Muslim quarter of Bangui, about 60 bodies were counted. Few were military, the majority of those killed were civilians. Central African Republic, December 6, 2013.

Between Damara and Bangui, two young boys who fled the violence and abuse of the Seleka are found on the road. Every night, they sleep in the bush, practically without food and without health assistance. Central African Republic, 9 November 2013.

This family fleeing the violence of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army found refuge in the bush near Obo, on the border with South Sudan. More than sixty people have had to leave their village. They have organized themselves to grow fruits and vegetables, from which they can earn an income on the market in Obo. Central African Republic, 16 October 2013.

A young boy plays basketball in the city of Obo. Central African Republic, 16 October 2013.

A family gathered at the IDP camp at M’Poko International Airport in Bangui. Central African Republic, February 26, 2014

Child playing in Bossangoa displaced camp, mostly Christian. Central African Republic, November 20, 2013.

Some 40,000 people have had to leave their villages in the Bossangoa region to seek refuge in the diocesan center, which, for lack of resources, can provide only a meager humanitarian aid, far below the needs of the population. Central African Republic, November 18, 2013.

This man fled the violence of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Along with other refugees, he lives in the forest and produces sorghum, corn and fruits. Obo Region, Central African Republic, 16 October 2013.

The anti-balaka spokesman said his group would be made up of several thousand young people living in the mountains around the capital while waiting for the signal to attack the city. Bangui Region, Central African Republic, December 4, 2013.

Protected from bullets and machete attacks by their gray-gray, these anti-balaka Bossembélé remain confined in the district of Boeing in Bangui. Central African Republic, 24 February 2014.

Anti-balaka in the Amada-Gaza region, near the Cameroon border. Central African Republic, May 4, 2014
Anti-balaka

These anti-balaka fighters rest, while others patrol the Boeing district. Bangui, Central African Republic, 24 February 2014.

At dawn, on the road with Colonel Rocka Mokom (center), anti-balaka leader, and some of his men. Amada Region Gaza, Central African Republic, May 6, 2014. This is Camille’s latest photograph on Instagram.

A young boy imitates the soldiers’ march on National Day. Following rumors of a possible coup attempt, the transitional president Djotodia decides to cancel the celebrations of the National Day. Bangui, Central African Republic, December 1, 2013

After the Seleka killings of military soldier Tanguy Residou on November 15 and magistrate Modeste Bria on November 16, young people demonstrate in the streets of Benzeville district in Bangui. The Seleka forces quickly arrived and opened fire, killing two people and injuring three others. Central African Republic, 17 November 2013.
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