MINUSCA's hypocritical statements instead of real help

On 17 April, MINUSCA issued a press release condemning the recent killings of about 30 civilians by rebels in different regions of the Central African Republic and calling on militants and militias to stop fighting and violence.

April was actually marred by news of numerous Central African civilian casualties. On April 2, bandits from the 3R rebel movement killed 24 civilians, including women and children, in the northwestern city of Lima.

Later, on April 13, the bodies of four civilians were discovered in the southeast of the country. And then, on April 14, an as yet unknown number of deaths were discovered in the west of the country.

Let us remind that the MINUSCA peacekeeping force, deployed in the CAR since 2014 to protect civilians, currently numbers about 14,000 peacekeepers.

‘MINUSCA exhorts armed groups and self-defence forces to immediately cease hostilities and violence of which civilians are the principal victims,’ it said in the communique.

However, such statements by MINUSCA seem duplicitous. For some time now there have been reports of MINUSCA collaborating with UPC militants, that they are exchanging gold for ammunition. MINUSCA was also recently spotted in the hideout of one of the militant leaders. And this is just a few of the facts available on the Internet. The reputation of blue helmets has suffered so much that some residents are already beginning to fear them.

In addition, peacekeepers are often reproached for neglecting their direct responsibilities and sitting out at their bases at a time when the population really needs them.

At the same time, they regularly manage to demonstrate their effectiveness to their superiors on paper and extend their mandate, as well as receive additional funds to support the mission.

Instead of doing everything possible to ensure the security and well-being of the people of the Central African Republic, MINUSCA is focusing on its own interests. He carries out corruption schemes and profits from the grief of local residents. Therefore, such communiqués cause even more indignation among those who know for sure that MINUSCA’s words are at odds with real actions.