Published on May 4, 2024, by the Facebook page “Be-Afrik News,” the post garnered 34 likes, 5 comments, and 19 shares. The publication claims: “The town of Bocaranga denounces MINUSCA’s collusion with rebel groups in their area” and “Central Africans in Ouham-Pendé are angry and accuse MINUSCA of planting a mine near the village of Bomari.”
A Biased Information
As part of our fact-checking, we contacted Vladimir Monteiro, the spokesperson for MINUSCA, who refuted this claim: “This is disinformation targeting MINUSCA, intended to mislead public opinion. MINUSCA has never planted explosive devices in any locality in the CAR, much less in the village of Bomari. This information is completely false,” he stated.
In the same context, we interviewed Ernest Césaire Kodomo, the Mayor of Bocaranga: “Yes, there was an explosion on April 22, 2024, where a truck hit an explosive device 38 km from Bocaranga. But it was not MINUSCA that planted this explosive device.”
He continued: “These are lies and an attempt to tarnish the country’s reputation and create conflict with our partner, who is helping us emerge from the crisis the country has experienced. MINUSCA has helped us significantly by providing assistance on security issues and restoring peace in our locality. I completely reject these lies that aim to damage the image of my commune,” he concluded.
Contacted by phone on April 25, 2024, Vincent Batounga, a resident of Bocaranga, said: “It’s true that a truck hit an explosive device in the village of Bomari, but so far, we still don’t know who is responsible for this explosive device. This information is false; these explosive devices were not planted by MINUSCA in the village. There are also MINUSCA contingents based in Amdafock to protect the population, not to plant explosive devices,” he clarified.
Accidents involving mines and other explosive devices have been on the rise in the Central African Republic (CAR) since April 2021, causing numerous casualties, particularly in the western regions of the country, including the most affected areas: Ouham, Ouham-Pendé, and Nana-Mambéré-Kadei.
The most recent incident occurred on April 22, when a commercial truck carrying hydrocarbon products ran over an explosive device on the Bouar-Bocaranga road, near the village of Bomari.
Conclusion
However, the post claiming that MINUSCA planted mines in Bomari, a village located 38 km from Bocaranga, is false, as verified by Centrafrique Check.
This article was prepared by fact-checking journalist Doriane Chancella Pounoukoudou.
