Rumors have been circulating recently, suggesting that MINUSCA had supplied its base in Birao with 5 fuel tankers sent from Bangui to Birao, a town in the extreme northeast of the Central African Republic and the capital of Vakaga Prefecture, located approximately 1,067 km from Bangui. These rumors arise in a context where the country is experiencing a fuel shortage. However, this information has been categorically denied by the Sub-Prefect of Birao and MINUSCA, as confirmed by AFC.
The fact-checking editorial team of the Central African Fact-checkers Association (AFC) contacted both MINUSCA and the Sub-Prefect of Birao for clarification.
Through its communication service, MINUSCA responded that their spokesperson had already addressed this latest disinformation campaign against MINUSCA during the weekly press conference on June 22. Due to the impassable state of the roads and in contact with the Central African State, MINUSCA has undertaken to source fuel from outside the country to avoid the interruption of its activities.
In a WhatsApp message to AFC, Guy Karema from MINUSCA stated, “MINUSCA is facing a fuel crisis affecting both the Bangui area and its field offices in the hinterland. Given the urgency of needs, the distance between the two cities and Bangui, and the impassable state of the roads, the mission, in contact with the Central African State, has decided to source fuel from outside the country to prevent the interruption of its activities.”
In a phone call with AFC, Leonard Mbele, the Sub-Prefect of Birao, a town in the extreme northeast of the Central African Republic and the capital of Vakaga Prefecture, located approximately 1,067 km from Bangui, refuted this information: “As a local authority, no tankers have come from Bangui to the MINUSCA base. It is a legal agreement between the Central African State and Sudan to supply fuel to MINUSCA, and this is not new information.”
In recent weeks, there have been several disinformation campaigns targeting not only MINUSCA but also other institutions, with the aim of inciting hatred and creating tensions in the Central African Republic.
By Cynthia Sanbgate / AFC
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