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UN PhotoMINUSCA / CAR EXCOMBATANT DISARMAMENT
STORY: MINUSCA / CAR EXCOMBATANT DISARMAMENT
TRT: 06:36
SOURCE: MINUSCA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / SANGO/ NATS
DATELINE: 10 JULY 2025, BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC / 27, 28 JULY 2025, MALOUM- BAMBARI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
10 JULY 2025, BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
1. Med shot, Ali-Ndarassa, leader of the UPC, laying down a weapon in front of President Touadera
2. Med shot, Bobo, leader of 3R, laying down a weapon in front of President Touadera
3. Med shot, Bobo, leader of 3R, and Ali-Ndarassa, chief of the UPC rebels
4. Med shot, Ali-Ndarassa, leader of the UPC
5. Close up, Ali-Ndarassa, leader of the UPC
6. Med shot, Bobo, leader of the 3R
7. Close up, Bobo, leader of the 3R
8. Close up, President of the Central African Republic, Touadera
9. Med shot, room with the President of the Central African Republic, Touadera
27, 28 JULY 2025, MALOUM- BAMBARI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
10. Med shot, disarmament site in Maloum
11. Med shot, ex-combatants secured by a blue helmet from MINUSCA
12. Med shot, ex-combatant secured by a blue helmet from MINUSCA
13. Close-up on weapons of the ex-combatants
14. Med shot, ex-combatants secured by a blue helmet from MINUSCA
15. Med shot, UENPDDR agent demonstrating in front of ex-combatants secured by a blue helmet from MINUSCA
16. Med shot, UENPDDR agent demonstrating in front of the ex-combatants
17. Med shot, UENPDDR agent demonstrating in front of the ex-combatants
18. Close up, hands of ex-combatants holding weapons and magazines
19. Med shot, UENPDDR agent
20. Med shot, ex-combatants following the demonstrations of the UENPDDR agent
21. SOUNDBITE (French) Wilfrid Relwende Sawadogo, Coordinator, DDR Field Office, MINUSCA:
"We observe a commitment from the leaders of the armed groups here in Maloum. And we observe discipline among the elements, which makes our job easier in terms of disarmament."
22. Med shot, ex-combatant handing over his weapon
23. Close up, UENPDDR agent handling the weapon
24. Med shot, security agent frisking an ex-combatant
25. Med shot, ex-combatant
26. Med shot, ex-combatant getting vaccinated by the nurse from the UENPDDR team
27. Med shot, awareness agent from the UENPDDR team educating ex-combatants
28. Med shot, ex-combatants
29. Med shot, awareness agent from the UENPDDR team educating ex-combatants
30. Med shot, awareness agent from the UENPDDR team
31. Close up, ex-combatants
32. Wide shot, ex-combatant walking to get his kit
33. Med shot, ex-combatant retrieving his kit
34. SOUNDBITE (French) Arnauld Didier, Head, UNPDDRR Operations:
"In response to the outreach from the President of the Republic, they have responded positively to that and everything is going well. Giving up your weapon truly contributes to peace, social cohesion, and living together.”
35. Wide shot, ex-combatants with the UENPDDR team
36. Med shot, ex-combatants
37. Close up, ex-combatants
38. Wide shot, ex-combatants with the UENPDDR team
39. Close up, ex-combatant being patted down
40. Close up, ex-combatants
41. Wide shot, ex-combatant walking
42. Med shot, ex-combatant walking
43. Med shot, ex-combatant being examined by the nurse of the UENPDDR team
44. Close up, ex-combatants
45. SOUNDBITE (Sango) Abdoulay Atair, Ex-Combatant:
"I joined the rebellion in Bambari in 2014. What pushed me to join the armed groups was primarily insecurity. We wanted to protect ourselves, defend our property, and ensure the safety of our families. But as long as there is no peace, we cannot live serenely or work with dignity. Today, thanks to the agreements signed with the government, we have committed ourselves to laying down our arms and actively contributing to the building of peace."
46. Wide shot, gathering of ex-combatants
47. Med shot, gathering of ex-combatants
48. Med shot, gathering of ex-combatants
49. Med shot, gathering of ex-combatants following orders
50. Close up, the weapons of ex-combatants
51. Med shot, gathering of ex-combatants following orders
52. Med shot, general coordinator of the ex-combatants' gathering
53. Med shot, regrouping of ex-combatants who follow the instructions
54. Med shot, regrouping of ex-combatants who follow the instructions of the coordinating general
55. Med shot, regrouping of ex-combatants who follow the instructions
56. Med shot, coordinating general of the regrouping of ex-combatants
57. Close up, the weapons of ex-combatants
58. Wide shot, municipal counselor
59. Med shot, the municipal counselor with members of his cabinet
60. Med shot, municipal counselor
61. Med shot, the members of his cabinet
62. Med shot, the municipal counselor with members of his cabinet
63. SOUNDBITE (Sango) Aliou Bi-Oba, Municipal Councillor, Maloum
"The entire population of Maloum is in joy. For us, peace is finally here. Our children, our brothers, and our parents who were in the bush have voluntarily and with open hearts chosen to lay down their arms. We extend our sincere thanks to the government and MINUSCA for their constant support in this process."
64. Med shot, MINUSCA Blue Helmets making arrangements to load weapons
65. Med shot, a Blue Helmet counting ammunition
66. Med shot, two Blue Helmets counting ammunition
67. Wide shot, Blue Helmets with members of UENPDDR
68. Med shot, two Blue Helmets with a member of the UENPDDR team counting ammunition
69. Close up, Blue Helmets' hands counting ammunition
70. Wide shot, MINUSCA Blue Helmets making arrangements to load weapons
71. Med shot, MINUSCA blue helmets loading weapons into the MINUSCA vehicle ready to embark with the weapons
72. Med shot, MINUSCA blue helmets loading weapons into the MINUSCA vehicle ready to embark with the weapons
73. Close up, MINUSCA blue helmets loading weapons into the MINUSCA vehicle ready to embark with the weapons
74. Close up, the weapons in the MINUSCA vehicle ready to embark with the weapons
75. Med shot, MINUSCA vehicle embarking with weapons
76. Med shot, MINUSCA vehicle embarking with weapons with a MINUSCA blue helmet securing the convoy
77. Med shot, MINUSCA vehicle convoy deploying weapons at the MINUSCA base
78. Med shot, the MINUSCA vehicle crossing the Maloum market
79. Med shot, MINUSCA vehicle in motion in front of the MINUSCA base
80. Med shot, MINUSCA vehicle in motion within the MINUSCA base
81. Wide shot, MINUSCA vehicle in the MINSUCA base making arrangements to unload and store the collected weapons
82. Med shot, peacekeepers unloading the weapons
After the peace agreement signed on 19 April in Chad between the Central African government and two armed groups, the Unity for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) and Return, Claim, Rehabilitation (3R), the Execution Unit of the National Disarmament, Demobilization, Reinsertion, and Repatriation Program (UEPNDDRR), with technical, logistical, security, and financial support from MINUSCA, launched disarmament and demobilization operations of former fighters from the UPC.
The two armed groups had been officially dissolved on 10 July in Bangui.
The village of Maloum, located 55 kilometres from Bambari, served as the setting for the disarmament of the fighters. The former fighters went through several key stages of the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reinsertion process, including the handing over of weapons, medical examinations, psycho-social support, identification, and remuneration.
SOUNDBITE (French) Wilfrid Relwende Sawadogo, Coordinator, DDR Field Office, MINUSCA:
"We observe a commitment from the leaders of the armed groups here in Maloum. And we observe discipline among the elements, which makes our job easier in terms of disarmament."
This process is part of a broader program for disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and repatriation (DDRR) aimed at strengthening security and sustainably stabilizing the country. The ongoing process is part of the revitalization of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR-RCA). Its goal is to address post-conflict security issues and to consolidate initiatives aimed at achieving lasting peace in the Central African Republic.
SOUNDBITE (French) Arnauld Didier, Head, UNPDDRR Operations:
"In response to the outreach from the President of the Republic, they have responded positively to that and everything is going well. Giving up your weapon truly contributes to peace, social cohesion, and living together.”
Only former combatants who meet the eligibility criteria will be integrated into the Defence and Security Forces of the Central African Republic or reintegrated into socio-economic activities. Those who are not eligible will benefit from the community violence reduction program which offers vocational training opportunities and income-generating activities.
SOUNDBITE (Sango) Abdoulay Atair, Ex-Combatant:
"I joined the rebellion in Bambari in 2014. What pushed me to join the armed groups was primarily insecurity. We wanted to protect ourselves, defend our property, and ensure the safety of our families. But as long as there is no peace, we cannot live serenely or work with dignity. Today, thanks to the agreements signed with the government, we have committed ourselves to laying down our arms and actively contributing to the building of peace."
The disarmament operations carried out in Maloum have allowed for the removal from former UPC combatants of significant arsenal, including hundreds of war weapons such as PKM machine guns and RPG-7 rocket launchers, as well as ammunition of various calibres.
SOUNDBITE (Sango) Aliou Bi-Oba, Municipal Councillor, Maloum
"The entire population of Maloum is in joy. For us, peace is finally here. Our children, our brothers, and our parents who were in the bush have voluntarily and with open hearts chosen to lay down their arms. We extend our sincere thanks to the government and MINUSCA for their constant support in this process."
These former combatants came from several localities, including Bria, Alindao, Pombolo, Ebando, Nzako, Goya, Bambari, and other gathering sites across the CAR.
All weapons collected by the mobile team of the UEPNDDRR have been transferred, stored, and secured in the facilities of MINUSCA. They will then be escorted to Bangui, where they will be officially handed over to the Central African government, in accordance with the procedures established under the peace agreement.
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