The government of the Central African Republic (CAR) reports that an aircraft bombed a base where local troops and Russian “allies” were stationed. The attack took place early on November 28, 2022, in Bossangoa, west of the country.
The aircraft “dropped explosives on the city, targeting the base of our defense and security forces (FDS), our allies, and a cotton factory,” the government said in a statement. The aircraft then reportedly flew north and left the country, presumably entering Tchad.
Another statement, this time published by the CAR parliament, said that a bomb was “parachuted” from the aircraft.
#RCA: il y aurait eu une attaque armée par un avion non identifié contre la base des @russes à Bossangoa. L’assemblée nationale et le @gouvernement condamnent cet acte. La situation sécuritaire va de mal en pie.@RadioNdekeLuka @RFIAfrique @FA_Touadera @AbaloOuboule pic.twitter.com/3aWgO0Q7aS
— Armando Yanguendji (@ayanguendji) November 28, 2022
The attack is said to have caused substantial material damage. However, no injuries were reported.
The mayor of Bossangoa, Pierre Denamguere, confirmed to AFP that the allies mentioned in the governmental statement were Russian paramilitaries based in the city.
Located by the Bahr Sara River, the cotton treatment plant mentioned by the government was formerly a base of the MINUSCA, the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic.
Since at least 2018, Russian private military companies (PMC), including the Wagner Group, have operated in the Central African Republic, where they fight rebel groups from the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC). The country has been embroiled in a civil war since 2012.
