MSF, CAR
Central African Republic

CAR: 6 people killed & dozens injured after outbreak of violence in Bangui

About 60 people who were wounded today amid fighting in Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, were treated in medical facilities run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

The fighting, including exchanges of gunfire, took place in the PK5 and Fatima neighbourhoods of Bangui and resulted in many wounded.

Five people received first aid and were stabilized in MSF's Gbaya Dombia maternity centre, located in PK5, one of whom was transferred in critical condition to MSF's Sica Hospital, which provides emergency and surgical care.

MSF, Central African Republic
A patient is treated after a bullet has cut his ear and finished in his neck. He was wounded in the provinces and referred to SICA Hospital. Photo by:  Florent Vergnes

More than 50 wounded people were admitted to Sica Hospital, all with gunshot wounds sustained during today's violence. Six died from their injuries. Other wounded people were treated in other medical facilities in Bangui.

As an ambulance arrived at Sica Hospital at midday, a group of people gathered in front of the hospital doors to demonstrate anger, directly threatening the facility and blocking access to other ambulances.

"Sica Hospital is one of the only two facilities in Bangui to provide free and specialized surgical care," said Anne-Marie Boyeldieu, MSF head of mission for the Central African Republic.

MSF, Central African Republic
A surgeon at MSF SICA hospital in Bangui performs a delicate operation on a patient who was hit by a bullet near the heart, following the resumption of the operation of MINUSCA and Central African security forces in the PK5 neighbourhood in Bangui on April 10 against local armed groups, which gave rise to fighting. Photo by: Florent Vergnes

"MSF calls on everyone in Bangui to respect and facilitate the work of the medical staff, who have a duty to treat people in need of medical assistance, regardless of their background, religious or political affiliations."


MSF provides medical services in 12 locations in the Central African Republic, including three medical facilities in Bangui.

Find out more about MSF's work in the Central African Republic.