Russian soldiers operating in the Central African Republic (CAR) allegedly killed two herders of the Peul extraction on Dec. 22 in the Nana-Mabdere area of the country.
The killing was unreported because it happened in a hard-to-reach community, with locals saying the Russian mercenaries were frustrated over failed military operations in the area.
A resident who witnessed the attack told HumAngle that the herders were grazing their cattle when they were fired at by Russian soldiers targeting the Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) rebels. The local soldiers were unhappy for failing to take down the terrorists they were trailing, the source said.
“Early in the morning on Sunday, a first group of Wagner security fighters left Beloko on the border with Cameroon. At Baboua, they met a second contingent that was waiting for them. The second group thus joined the first group, and they all started moving towards Bouar, where a third unit joined them,” a senior officer of the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic (FACA) revealed.
“The troops were now travelling on 54 motorbikes with three helicopters ensuring aerial cover. They were headed towards a position of the 3R rebels, who are members of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) near Bouzou.”
Some civilian witnesses said the Russian mercenaries met strong resistance from the CPC fighters, forcing them to withdraw in disarray. On their way to Bouzou, the frustrated Russians captured the Peul cattle herders and put plastic bags over their heads before killing them.
“In Bouzou, the Russians unleashed their frustrations on the village, looting and stealing the belongings of the villagers, including bedsheets, plates and other household utensils. From Bouzou, the Russian convoy headed towards Besson. About 30 kilometres from Bouzou, the motorbike convoy stopped and the cattle herders were shot at point blank range by the Wagner mercenaries,” another civilian added.
While the two Peuls were being executed, other groups of Russian mercenaries entered the forest between Baboua and Beloko in search of rebels. It is unclear if they succeeded in their forest expeditions.
Russian soldiers in the Central African Republic allegedly killed two Peul herders on Dec. 22 during a failed military operation targeting 3R rebels. The incident, which was unreported initially due to the remote location, occurred when the mercenaries, frustrated by their unsuccessful attempts to capture rebels, mistakenly attacked the herders.
Witnesses recount that multiple Russian contingents joined forces and traveled on motorbikes towards a rebel position, but faced strong resistance. In their retreat, they captured and eventually executed the herders, later looting the village of Bouzou. Other groups of Russian soldiers continued searching the forest for rebels, but it’s unclear if they succeeded.