Unfolding Tragedy: The Central African Republic

Residents of Bossangoa shelter from gunfire as Multinational Force of Central Africa (FOMAC) peacekeeping troops move to try to protect the population from anti-balaka attacks in the town. December 5, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Displaced people seek shelter in the compound of the FOMAC peacekeepers in Bossangoa as anti-balaka and Seleka forces fight in the town. December 6, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Displaced people find shelter in a disused factory at the Christian mission in Bossangoa. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting between Seleka and anti-balaka forces. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Captain Wilson in the FOMAC peacekeeping compound. When heavy clashes erupted in Bossangoa in December 2013, Captain Wilson from the Republic of Congo rallied his peacekeeping troops with remarkable speed and courage, deploying them around town to safeguard the tens of thousands of displaced people at the Catholic church and at other sites around town. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Machetes are confiscated by FOMAC peacekeepers as residents displaced by the fighting between anti-balaka and Seleka forces enter the FOMAC compound for safety. December 6, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Local Seleka forces exit the FOMAC compound after their commander, Colonel Saleh, met with Captain Wilson of the FOMAC peacekeepers at the FOMAC compound during a lull in the fighting between anti-balaka and Seleka forces. December 7, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Anti-balaka fighters have recruited and armed children in the villages surrounding Bossangoa. The mainly Christian anti-balaka forces are fighting the predominantly Muslim ex-Seleka forces who have ruled the country since March. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Imam Ishmail Nafi stands in the displaced persons camp in the École Liberté in Bossangoa, praying for those killed the previous day in the anti-balaka attack on the town. Eleven civilians were killed outside his house while seeking safety from the attackers. December 6, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Oumar Abacar, a 26-year-old ethnic Peuhl nomad, stands in the home of the imam of Bossangoa. Anti-balaka militias attacked the nomadic cattle camp where he was staying, north of Bossangoa. He was shot twice and fled to the Muslim Boro district of the town. After receiving medical treatment at a local hospital he was killed by anti-balaka fighters, an hour after this photo was taken. December 5, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

A man shot in the leg is wheeled into the FOMAC peacekeeping compound where many people sought shelter from the fighting between anti-balaka and Seleka forces in Bossangoa. December 6, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

A sick woman is rushed to the hospital from the grounds of the Catholic church in Bossangoa, housing tens of thousands of people displaced by the fighting. December 7, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Youssouf Mahamat, a 16-year-old Muslim, lies in a hospital after treatment in Bossangoa. He had been shot by anti-balaka forces. December 7, 2013. © 2013 Marcus Bleasdale/VII for Human Rights Watch 422068

Protecting Rights, Saving Lives