Nzacko

Nzacko or Nzako is a village located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Mbomou on the road between Bakouma and Bria.

Nzacko
Catholic mission in Nzacko
Nzacko Location in Central African Republic
Coordinates: 6°07′33″N 22°51′40″E
Country	Central African Republic
Prefecture	Mbomou
Sub-prefecture	Bakouma
Commune	Bakouma

Artisanal diamond mining is active in the commune.^[1]

History

On 9 February 2010, LRA raided Nzacko. They killed two people and kidnapped around 40.^[2]

In July 2014 Séléka militiamen clashed with Ugandan forces resulting in deaths of over dozen of Selekans and several Ugandan troops.^[3]

Between 20 and 24 March 2017 FPRC and Anti-balaka took control of Nzacko after expelling UPC fighters.^[4] On 6 June at least 18 civilians were killed after FPRC attacked Anti-balaka positions in the town.^[5] On 11 June 2017 FPRC took control of Nzacko.^[1]

On 27 April 2021 the town was captured by Russian mercenaries.^[6] On 8 December 2021 armed forces withdrew from Nzacko and week later rebels from FPRC recaptured the village.^[7] On 5 March 2022 Russian mercenaries captured Nzacko village clashing with FPRC rebels. 2 Russians and 5 rebels were killed.^[8] On 8 March 2022 rebels again took control of Nzacko^[9] and on 27 March armed forces again recaptured it.^[10]

CPC rebels stormed the FACA position in the town on 1 June 2024. The attack was repelled by FACA, in which 12 rebels were killed.^[11]

References

1. Banafio, Moïse (6 December 2018). "Centrafrique: Nzacko, une commune minière abandonnée par le pouvoir de Bangui (Reportage)".
2. MINUSCA (May 2017). Report of the Mapping Project documenting serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of Central African Republic between January 2003 and December 2015 (Report). MINUSCA. p. 109. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
3. Behind the headlines: UPDF clashes with Seleka in eastern CAR, 3 July 2014
4. Letter dated 26 July 2017 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to Security Council resolution 2339 (2017) addressed to the President of the Security Council
5. Amnesty International Report 2017/18 - Central African Republic, 22 February 2018
6. RCA : la ville de Nzako reprise par les mercenaires russes et syriens, 28 April 2021
7. Centrafrique : La situation sécuritaire toujours préoccupante à Nzacko au Sud-est du pays après le retrait des FACA et leurs alliés, 16 December 2021
8. Centrafrique : violent affrontement entre les rebelles et les mercenaires russes à Zacko, au moins 7 morts, 7 March 2022
9. "CAR: panic in Zacko, Russian mercenaries have just left, rebels return to the city, mass abuse". CNC. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
10. Centrafrique : retour au calme à Bakouma après le redéploiement des Forces armées centrafricaines, 1 April 2022
11. Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "Centrafrique : calme à Nzako après une attaque rebelle repoussée le week-end". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 7 June 2024.