About five civilians were slain when rebels ambushed a town in northwest Central African Republic on Thursday, November 2.
This is the latest reported escalation in a decade-long conflict, according to a local official said.
The members of an alliance of armed groups tagged the Coalition of Patriots for Change, CPC had attacked the town of Moyenne Sido, located near the border with Chad very early in the morning yesterday, just before sunrise, according to Mayor Salomon Yamindji’s reports.
Residents had awoken to the sound of gunfire as more than 300 assailants stormed the town.
A provisional death toll of five had been given as at the time of filing this report.
The CPC thereafter issued a statement announcing that it had taken over the town, urging residents to join its ranks.
The CPC militants are looking to repeal the outcome of an election in December 2020 that saw President Faustin-Archange Touadera secure a second term.
The army, supported by United Nations peacekeepers, Russian and Rwandan troops, has been battling the group for years.
The U.N. has accused all involved parties of human right violations including summary killings, torture, conflict-related sexual violence as well as the use of child fighters among other abuses.
The Mineral-rich Central African Republic which has been embroiled in violence since a partnership of mainly Muslim Seleka rebels deposed then-President, Francois Bozize in 2013, leading to counter attacks from mostly Christian militias.
The CPC usually operates by ambushing towns, villages and army posts.
