West and Central Africa: Latest events at a glance (2 to 8 July 2024)

Central African Republic

Armed group attack in Ngoutéré leaves several dead and displaces villagers

On 2 July, an armed group attacked a position of the country's security forces (including police and military) in Ngoutéré, in the western part of the country, near the borders of Chad and Cameroon. According to the authorities, five members of the Central African armed forces were killed, two others were injured, and another was taken hostage. One civilian death is also reported. Fearing for their lives following the attack, the populations of several villages fled. Humanitarian partners were advised to limit their movements on the Bocaranga-Bozoum axis. This is the sixth clash between the non-state armed group and the country's security forces since January for resource control of the town of Ngoutéré.

Burkina Faso

Attacks by armed groups in Kossi province result in 66 civilian deaths and mass displacement

At least 66 civilians were killed, around 20 injured, and 20 villages evacuated following a series of attacks by non-state armed groups in the communes of Doumbala, Sono, and Barani in the province of Kossi, Boucle du Mouhoun region. According to operational figures, as of 1 July 2024, these incidents triggered the forced displacement of an estimated 3,000 people to Sano and 1,700 people to Nouna town. The displaced people need emergency assistance, including food and non-food items. The vulnerability of the population is already high in the region during the current lean season.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Over 150,000 people fled violence in Lubero territory

In recent weeks, persistent fighting between the Congolese army and a non-state armed group in several villages in Lubero territory displaced over 150,000 people to localities in the Lubero health zone along the Kanyabayonga-Butembo road. This new displacement has increased humanitarian needs, exceeding the operating capacities of humanitarian actors. North Kivu province currently hosts 2.8 million displaced people, including over 466,000 who were displaced in Lubero territory following resurgent fighting in Rutshuru and Masisi territories in March 2024.

Mali

Protection incidents increase by 127 per cent during the first quarter of 2024

On 3 July, close to 8,700 protection incidents were recorded, corresponding to an increase of 127 per cent (+1,946) compared to the previous quarter and 123 per cent compared to the same period in 2023 (+2,064). Rights violations included attacks on physical and/or psychological integrity, attacks on property rights, and forced population movements. Most of the protection incidents documented occurred in Mopti (2,876), Gao (2,263), Ségou (1,279), and Timbuktu (1,205) regions. Over the same period, 2,315 gender-based violence incidents were reported, compared with 1,782 incidents in the same period in 2023, an increase of 30 per cent. In this context, humanitarian organizations continue to advocate for enhanced support to cover the growing needs across the country