MISCA escorts another convoy of 120 commercial and humanitarian vehicles to Bangui

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic-CAR (MISCA), yesterday, completed the escort of another 120 vehicles into Bangui. Most of the vehicles were heavy-duty trucks transporting shipping containers loaded with commercial goods and humanitarian supplies from the Cameroon seaport of Douala into the CAR. This brings to 1,205 the total number of vehicles MISCA has successfully escorted from the Cameroon border to the CAR capital, since the Mission was launched on 19 December 2013.

MISCA Force Commander, Brigadier General Martin Tumenta, declared that MISCA troops have completely secured the road linking the Cameroon border town of Garoua Boulai to the CAR capital, Bangui. He commended MISCA forces for their discipline and professionalism and urged them to continue implementing the mandate of the Mission with the same dedication. “The overall security situation in the country has considerably improved, despite a few isolated cases of violence. Our forces have been deployed throughout Bangui and are progressively spreading out into other parts of the country. As part of our mandate, we are determined to protect the civilian population and help this beautiful African country to regain peace, security and stability.” The Force Commander stated.

Security for the convoy which arrived in Bangui yesterday was provided by MISCA's Burundi Contingent whose Commander, Lt. Col. Pontien Hakizimana, praised the CAR population for its cooperation with MISCA. “Since our arrival in CAR, the Burundian contingent has been warmly welcomed by the population and I think the Commanders of the other contingents would agree with me that the cooperation of the civilian population has greatly facilitated our job of safely escorting these convoys from the Cameroon border and improving the security situation in the country, particularly here in Bangui. During escort operations of the convoy which arrived today, our forces dismantled four illegal checkpoints and captured several anti-Balaka militiamen who are currently in our custody. They shall be handed over to the CAR authorities, in accordance with international Human Rights and Humanitarian law. Overall, I think the escort operations have been very successful.” Lt. Col. Hakizimana said.