CAR / FORCE COMMANDER ATTACKS

Force Commander of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Gen. Daniel Sidiki Traore visited today the areas PK12 and PK13, in the commune of Begoua, where unidentified armed combatants attacked security forces and peacekeepers on Wednesday (13 Jan). MINUSCA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:27
• Production Date: 14 January 2021
• Asset Language: French
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MULTIDIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATION MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - MINUSCA
• Subject Topical: ELECTIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
• Geographic Subject: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
• MAMS Id: 2597470
• Parent Id: 2597470
• Alternate Title: unifeed210114c

Description

STORY: CAR / FORCE COMMANDER ATTACKS
TRT: 3:27
SOURCE: MINUSCA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / SANGO/ NATS

DATELINE: 14 JANUARY 2021, BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Shotlist

1. Various shots, MINUSCA convoy heading to various check points
2. Wide shot, Force Commander, Gen. Sidiki leaving from vehicle
3. Various shots, General Sidiki Traoré briefed by Peacekeepers at one of the check points at PK13, traders on the background
4. Wide shot, peacekeepers on high alert with traders on the background
5. SOUNDBITE (French) General Daniel Sidiki Traoré, Force Commander, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
"From the behavior of the population, I see that the people have resumed their normal activities here, thanks to the operations which were carried out yesterday in response to this attempt to intrusion of rebel groups inside Bangui. However, through the vigor and robustness and determination of our troops, it is here that the insurgent elements were able to be stopped and therefore we were able to contain them."
« Ma lecture je l’a fait a travers le comportement de la population, je vois que la population a repris ces activités ici, c’est grâce a donc aux activités, aux opérations qui ont été mené hier suite justement a cette tentative d’intrusion de groupes rebelles à l’intérieur de la ville de Bangui, mais par la vigueur et la robustesse et la détermination de nos troupes, c’est ici exactement que les premiers éléments ont pu être arrêter et donc on a pu contenir. »
6. Various shots, convoy at another check point
7. Various shots, Gen. Sikidi speaking with the population in place of attack
8. SOUNDBITE (French) General Daniel Sidiki Traoré, Force Commander, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
"There will of course be interaction with the population, people must know that we are there for them, with them and you too certainly have a role to play in this direction, by sending the right message so that those for who we are undertaking our mission can move forward, we can move forward for peace and security not only in Bangui in the Central African Republic and I want to say, if there is peace in the Central African Republic, there is peace in Africa and therefore certainly peace in the world. We are working for this, we are peacekeepers and we are determined to ensure that there is peace in this country and in the whole world.”
« Il y aura bien sûr de l’interaction avec ces populations il faut qu’elle sache que nous sommes la pour elle, avec elle et vous aussi vous avez certainement un rôle a jouer dans ce sens pour passer le bon message afin que ceux pour lesquels nous sommes la comprennent notre mission et que dans la main nous puissions avancer, nous puissions aller de l’avant pour la paix et la sécurité non seulement à Bangui en Centrafrique et j’aime à le dire si y a la paix en Centrafrique, y a la paix en Afrique et partant aussi certainement la paix dans le monde, nous travaillons pour cela, sommes des soldats de la paix et nous sommes déterminer pour veiller a ce que la paix règne dans ce pays et dans le monde entier. »
9. Various shots, Force commander speaking with women in Damara neighborhood
10. UPSOUND (Sango) local resident of Damara:
"The rebels who brought suffering to population, have mercy on us, you are here in this country for us, we pray to the good Lord for your coming, may God return you a hundredfold, people are dying, there is famine , we have no medicine, may God give you back a hundredfold, we have suffered too much, currently people have fled, people have taken refuge on the other side, may God support Minusca, "
"Les rebelles qui sont arrivés la population a souffert, ayez pitié de nous, vous êtes la dans ce pays pour nous, nous prions le bon Dieu pour votre venue, que Dieu vous rende le centuple, les gens meurent, il y a la famine, on a pas de médicaments, que Dieu vous rende le centuple, on a trop souffert, présentement les gens ont fui, les gens se sont réfugiés de l’autre côté, que Dieu soutienne la Minusca,"
11. Med shot, locals seated
12. Various shots, peacekeepers on patrol the neighborhoods.

Storyline

Force Commander of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Gen. Daniel Sidiki Traore visited today the areas PK12 and PK13, in the commune of Begoua, where unidentified armed combatants attacked security forces and peacekeepers on Wednesday (13 Jan).

General Sidiki visited various checkpoints erected by the peacekeepers in the aftermath of the attacks and spent time on patrols in the affected areas, but also meet with the population.

SOUNDBITE (French) General Daniel Sidiki Traoré, Force Commander, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
"From the behavior of the population, I see that the people have resumed their normal activities here, thanks to the operations which were carried out yesterday in response to this attempt to intrusion of rebel groups inside Bangui. However, through the vigor and robustness and determination of our troops, it is here that the insurgent elements were able to be stopped and therefore we were able to contain them."

Together with the Central African Armed Forces and the Bilateral Forces, the MINUSCA peacekeepers after heavy fighting successfully pushed back against armed groups. According to the Force Commander, the peacekeepers will be reorganized to protect the city. He called on the population to be vigilant and to collaborate with the Force.

SOUNDBITE (French) General Daniel Sidiki Traoré, Force Commander, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)
"There will of course be interaction with the population, people must know that we are there for them, with them and you too certainly have a role to play in this direction, by sending the right message so that those for who we are undertaking our mission can move forward, we can move forward for peace and security not only in Bangui in the Central African Republic and I want to say, if there is peace in the Central African Republic, there is peace in Africa and therefore certainly peace in the world. We are working for this, we are peacekeepers and we are determined to ensure that there is peace in this country and in the whole world.”

In the statement, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled that attacks against United Nations peacekeepers “may constitute a war crime.” Guterres said he “remains very concerned” over continued destabilization efforts by armed groups in the Central African Republic and calls on all parties to “stop violence and engage in meaningful dialogue.” He commended the continued engagement of the UN peacekeepers in their efforts to protect civilians and preserve national stability.