Bria, Central African Republic

Geography

Bria is located on the Kotto River.

History

In 1930, a ginning factory was established in Bria by the Comouna cotton company.

Civil war

On 18 December 2012 Bria was captured by Séléka rebels. On 21 November 2016 an armed conflict broke out between the ethnicities Gula and Peuhl representing different armed groups resulting in death of 92 people, many more injured and 12000 refugees around the UN camp outside the city.

On 18 May 2017 heavy clashes erupted between Anti-balaka and ex-Seleka in Bria resulting in 26 deaths. On 21 June 2017 clashes between rival factions resulting in death of around 100 people. On 4 December 2017 Anti-balaka fighters led by Jean-Francis Diandi attacked international forces in Bria killing one Mauritanian peacekeeper. On 16 March 2018 Jean-Francis Diandi was arrested by peacekeepers. On 6 September 2018 Séléka rebels killed a number of people, most of them women.

On 25–6 January 2020 the MLCJ attacked Bria capturing more than 60% of the city after 24 hours of clashes with FPRC. On 28 January both groups signed ceasefire promising to withdraw fighters from parts of the town. On 22 March 2021 Bria was recaptured by government forces. One FPRC fighter was killed. On 2 April rebels launched attack on Bria which was repelled, two rebels and one soldier were killed.

Since 15 December 2021, Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group have arrested numerous people – mainly youths – inside the town, leading to reported human rights abuses.Massacre by the Wagner Group On 4 January, the Wagner Group shot and killed 4 youths in a massacre. At 5:00 P.M. mercenaries entered the local mosque and removed the corpses of their victims from the building.

Climate

Bria has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw), with a lengthy though not intense wet season from mid-March to October and a relatively short and mostly rainless dry season from November to mid-March. Although the wet season is longer than the dry season, the dry season is sufficiently dry and the wet season insufficiently wet for tropical monsoon classification.

Infrastructure

• Bria Airport

References

References

1. "Centrafrique : Décrets portant nomination des Gouverneurs, des Préfets et des Sous-Préfets". Oubangui Medias.
3. (18 December 2012). "Central African Republic rebels take diamond-mine town".
4. [https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/61706/car-clashes-break-out-in-bria-northeast-may-18-19 CAR: Clashes break out in Bria (northeast) May 18-19]
5. (21 June 2017). "'Around 100 killed' in CAR's Bria despite truce deal". aljazeera.com.
6. [https://intelligencebriefs.com/leader-of-anti-balaka-militia-in-central-africa-republic-arrested-by-un-peacekeepers/ Leader Of Anti-Balaka Militia In Central Africa Republic Arrested By UN Peacekeepers], 22 March 2018
7. [https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-ramazani-le-chef-milicien-anti-balaka-de-bria-libere-de-ngaragba-rejoint-le-cpc/ RCA : Ramazani, le chef milicien Anti-Balaka de Bria, libéré de Ngaragba, rejoint le CPC], 17 March 2021
8. (7 September 2018). "UN police investigating killing of displaced people in Central African Republic". news.un.org.
9. (12 October 2018). "Central African Republic: Rebels Executing Civilians". hrw.org.
10. (27 January 2020). "Bria, le MLCJ contrôle 60% de la ville, des dizaines des habitations incendiées.".
11. [https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-un-accord-de-cessez-le-feu-a-bria-les-groupes-armes-sengagent-a-retirer-leurs-troupes/ RCA : un accord de cessez-le-feu à Bria, les groupes armés s’engagent à retirer leurs troupes], 28 January 2020
12. [https://www.facebook.com/ngrebadapm/posts/3008267756165508 Félicitations à nos militaires et aux alliés qui ont pris le contrôle de Bria, chef lieu de la Prefecture de la Haute Kotto.], [[Firmin Ngrébada. Ngrebada Firmin]], 22 March 2021
13. [https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-retour-au-calme-a-bria-apres-une-journee-de-tension/ RCA : retour au calme à Bria après une journée de tension], 22 March 2021
14. [https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-violente-attaque-des-positions-des-soldats-faca-a-lentree-de-bria-par-les-rebelles-du-cpc/ RCA : violente attaque des positions des soldats FACA à l’entrée de Bria par les rebelles du CPC], 2 April 2021
15. Munshi, Neil. (2021-10-22). "Russian mercenaries leave trail of destruction in the Central African Republic". Financial Times.
16. (2022-01-05). "Russian Mercenaries Kill 4 Civilians In Central African Republic".
17. "Normales et records pour la période 2000-2012 à Bria". Infoclimat.
18. "Climate Bria - Central African Republic for rainfall totals". Infoclimat.