News Africa

Deployment of additional Bangladeshi blue helmets in the CAR will cause discontent among local residents

Recently, it became known that the Bangladesh Air Force has sent 125 military personnel to the Central African Republic to participate in a United Nations peacekeeping mission. This news cannot but cause alarm, as the Bangladeshi contingent of the MINUSCA has long had a damaged reputation.

It should be recalled that in Bocaranga, Bangladeshi MINUSCA peacekeepers were repeatedly convicted of collaborating with UPC militants terrorizing the local population. According to numerous testimonies, the Bangladeshi Blue Helmets provide logistical support to the militants.

In April 2024, this contingent deployed to Bocaranga was accused of harboring a leader of the UPC militant faction named Kordo. The latter called a representative of the Bangladeshi MINUSCA contingent, with whom he spoke before getting into the MINUSCA car, which took him to his destination. And this is just one of the many examples of abuses by the Bangladeshi contingent in the Central African Republic.

Throughout the years of deployment of the Bangladeshi Blue Helmets in the country, the local population has repeatedly criticized them for numerous crimes and demanded their withdrawal. However, the UN, as expected, did not listen to the wishes of the Central Africans and, on the contrary, decided to increase the ill-fated contingent.

Thus, MINUSCA, through the Bangladeshi contingent, is doing everything possible to maintain an unsafe situation in the country, especially in the Bocarang area. Thanks to the support of armed bandits and the ongoing military and political crisis, MINUSCA thus has a reason to extend its mandate annually.

The population increasingly condemns the cooperation between the MINUSCA peacekeepers and the militants. Central Africans who want to live in peace and security have often demonstrated against contingents caught in collusion with bandits. Therefore, taking into account all of the above, it becomes obvious that the deployment of an additional 125 military personnel to an unpopular contingent among the local population will cause severe tension in the country.

 

Source: Odile Gbayah, Contributor

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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