A post claims, supported by images of UN peacekeepers, that MINUSCA distributed weapons to the rebels of the Union for Peace in Central Africa (UPC). This claim, posted on November 22, 2022, by the Facebook page “Mama Africa,” with the caption: “MINUSCA distributes weapons to Fulani of the former UPC in the Ippy region…” is false and intended to damage MINUSCA’s reputation.
Verification:
Verification with reliable sources confirms that this information is not accurate.
To check this claim and distinguish fact from fiction, the Association of Fact-Checkers of Central Africa (AFC) contacted Vladimir Montéro, MINUSCA spokesperson, via WhatsApp on November 25, 2022. He rejected the claim, stating: “This is false information. Recently, we have recorded misinformation campaigns against MINUSCA, and we denounce this campaign as an attempt to discredit MINUSCA’s image in the public eye.”
Captain Firmin Amolomalo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense and the restructuring of the National Army, also refutes the claim: “This is really absurd. The FACA are stationed in Ippy, and it is a whole garrison army working to be close to the population. Therefore, this information is completely false.”
This publication surfaced following the UN Security Council’s announcement of a one-year extension of the UN mandate in Central Africa. The mandate prioritizes tasks such as protecting civilians, facilitating peace processes, including the implementation of the ceasefire and the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation (APPR), and safely delivering humanitarian aid.
After verification, the claim that MINUSCA distributed weapons to the Fulani of the former UPC in the Ippy region is unfounded.
By Marie-Paule Vopiadé and Romaric Gbomandji / AFC
