A Facebook post claiming that MINUSCA exchanged weapons and ammunition for gold and diamonds with armed groups in the presence of the population of Baboua is false, according to local authorities and the UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
Posted on January 11, 2023, by the Facebook account “236 Actu,” the post claims: “The residents of Baboua saw the Bangladeshi contingent cooperating with armed groups, exchanging weapons and ammunition for gold and diamonds.” Be cautious of this post’s content.
Verification:
To verify this information and distinguish fact from fiction, AFC contacted Lieutenant-Colonel Abdoul Aziz Ouédraogo, MINUSCA spokesperson, on February 6, 2023. He firmly denied the claim: “This is completely false; it is just an allegation. If anyone had witnessed such an exchange, there would be images captured by mobile phones,” he stated.
Ephrem Kaprang, president of the special delegation of the city of Baboua, located approximately 536 km from Bangui, also confirmed by phone that he had not observed such an exchange in his locality: “We also receive these rumors from surrounding villages. As of now, I am conducting investigations to verify their truth. As far as my locality is concerned, no such practices are taking place.”
Bienvenu Sŏngamo, a trader in Baboua, denied ever witnessing MINUSCA engaging in such exchanges: “I have never seen MINUSCA exchange weapons and ammunition with armed groups. Moreover, there are no rebels in our city.”
This publication emerged following the one-year extension of MINUSCA’s mandate by the United Nations Security Council. This mandate includes priority tasks such as civilian protection, mediation, and support for the peace process, including the implementation of the ceasefire and the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation (APPR), as well as the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
After verification, the claim that MINUSCA exchanged weapons and ammunition for gold and diamonds with rebels in Baboua, located approximately 536 km from Bangui, is false.
By Princia Florence Yalla / AFC
This article is produced as part of the AFC-Internews partnership funded by USAID. However, the content does not engage the partner’s responsibility.
If you find any information or images dubious, please contact our editorial team at +236 75 38 11 73 / 72 30 85 45, or email us at [email protected]
