Mboki is a town and sub-prefecture in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture of the south-eastern Central African Republic.

Mboki
Mboki in 2023
Mboki in 2023
Sub-prefectures of Haut-Mbomou
Sub-prefectures of Haut-Mbomou
Mboki is located in Central African Republic
Mboki
Mboki
Location in the Central African Republic
Coordinates: 5°18′58″N 25°57′26″E / 5.316°N 25.9571°E / 5.316; 25.9571
CountryCentral African Republic
PrefectureHaut-Mbomou
Government
 • Sub-PrefectChristian Jonas Kadayombo[1]
 • MayorLéa Patah[2]
Population
 (2014[3])
 • Total
10,000
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

History

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Sub-prefecture

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On 16 March 1968, the Mboki sub-prefecture was established and later it was abolished on 14 February 1984 due to unknown circumstances.[4] However, Mboki regained the status of sub-prefecture.[5]

LRA Insurgency

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On 24 July 2009, 13 LRA fighters commanded by Colonel Acellam Smart attacked Mboki. They looted the town's market and killed five civilians. However, when they killed 11 years old boy, 200 Mboki self-defence force fighters armed with arrows and machetes attacked the militias. The self-defense group managed to kill three and injure three LRA fighters. As a result, LRA retreated and escaped to the bush. While hiding in the bush, three injured LRA fighters soon died.[6][7]

On 20 and 21 March 2010, LRA attacked Mboki. They abducted six people and killed the chief of Mboki 3 neighborhood.[8]

Central African Republic Civil War

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Until mid-2017 Mboki was not affected by Central African Republic Civil War. In June 2017 presence of Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) fighters and incursions by self-defense groups from Bangassou was reported in the town. On 25 June three soldiers were killed in Mboki.[9] As of April 2021 Mboki remains under control of UPC armed group.[10]

Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé militia attacked UPC position 10 kilometers from Mboki on 7 May 2023 after hearing the disappearance of a Fulani herder, for which the militia blamed the rebels for it. This forced the town residents to seek refuge at the catholic church.[11] On 8 May 2023, the clash between Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé and UPC reached Mboki downtown and Azande militia controlled 80% of the town.[12] Later, the Azandé militia retreated 7 km from Mboki after MINUSCA forced them to withdraw.[13]

Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé attacked the UPC position in Mboki for the second time on 15 June 2023. Although UPC repelled the attack, Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé militia remained on the town's outskirt, and the residents fled to the field and bush near Mboki.[14] It was estimated that 40 people were dead from both warring parties, and four civilians were killed.[15]

The town was attacked again by Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé on 29 August 2023. Casualties were reported on both sides.[16] In September 2023 armed forces and MINUSCA peacekeepers were deployed in Mboki.[17]

FACA and Wagner mercenaries captured Mboki from UPC on 25 May 2024 after a brief clash.[18]

Healthcare

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Mboki has one health center.[19]

Transport

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The town is served by M'Boki Airport.

References

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  1. ^ Oubangui Medias, Oubangui Medias. "Centrafrique : Décrets portant nomination des Gouverneurs, des Préfets et des Sous-Préfets". oubanguimedias.com. Oubangui Medias. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Centrafrique: abandonnés aux mains des groupes armés, les habitants de Mboki appellent à l'aide". 15 March 2022.
  3. ^ RCA : des villageois saccagent une ONG sur fond de rumeurs, 6 June 2014
  4. ^ Serre, Jacques; Fandos-Rius, Juan (2014). Répertoire de l'administration territoriale de la République centrafricaine. Paris: L’Harmattan. p. 219. ISBN 978-2-343-01298-8.
  5. ^ Ngoulou, Fridolin. "La Centrafrique dispose désormais de 20 préfectures et de 84 sous-préfectures". oubanguimedias.com. Oubangui Medias. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  6. ^ Cakaj, Ledio. "On the Heels of Kony: The Untold Tragedy Unfolding in the Central African Republic". enoughproject.org. Enough Project. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  7. ^ Cakaj, Ledio. "Central African Communities Live In Fear Of LRA". enoughproject.org. Enough Project. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  8. ^ Human Security Baseline Assessment (January 2007). A widening war around Sudan:The proliferation of armed groups in the Central African Republic (PDF) (Report). Human Security Baseline Assessment. p. 2. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  9. ^ Letter dated 6 December 2017 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2339 (2017) addressed to the President of the Security Council (Pdf).
  10. ^ Centrafrique, Corbeaunews (2021-04-27). "RCA : arrivée massive des rebelles de l'UPC à Zémio, incendie des maisons au centre-ville - Corbeau News Centrafrique ou si b il LPP Corbeau News Centrafrique ou si b il LPP". Corbeau News Centrafrique ou si b il LPP (in French). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  11. ^ Ndoumba, Felix. "Centrafrique : Violent affrontement en cours entre les miliciens AZANDE ANI KPI GBE et les rebelles de l'UPC à Mboki". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  12. ^ Ndoumba, Félix. "Le plein centre-ville de Mboki en proie aux violents affrontements entre miliciens et rebelles: débandade générale de la population". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  13. ^ Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "Centrafrique : la ville de Mboki secouée par des combats entre la milice locale A Zandé Ani Kpi Gbé et l'UPC". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  14. ^ Ndoumba, Félix. "Mboki : Un nouvel épisode sanglant oppose les miliciens Azandé Ani Kpi Gbe aux rebelles de l'UPC". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  15. ^ Xinhua, Xinhua. "Centrafrique : plus de 40 morts dans un affrontement entre deux groupes armés dans le sud-est du pays". french.xinhuanet.com. Xinhua. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  16. ^ Elie, Mborifouefelle. "Attaque violente en cours à Mboki : Milice contre Rebelles, la Terreur s'installe". corbeaunews-centrafrique.org. Corbeau News Centrafrique. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  17. ^ MBOKI : Les patrouilles conjointes FACA-MINUSCA se sont intensifiées, 29 September 2023
  18. ^ Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "Centrafrique : les Faca et leurs alliés lancent une importante opération militaire à Mboki". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  19. ^ World Health Organization (March 2017). Enquête rapide sur l'estimation des besoins de santé des populations affectées par la crise en République Centrafricaine en 2016 (PDF) (Report). p. TT. Retrieved 23 June 2023.