Bémal

Bémal
Bémal Location in Central African Republic
Coordinates: 7°34′52″N16°36′40″E / 7.58111°N 16.61111°E / 7.58111; 16.61111
Country	Central African Republic
Prefecture	Lim-Pendé
Sub-prefecture	Paoua
Commune	Mia-Péndé

Bémal is a village located in Lim-Pendé Prefecture, Central African Republic. Until December 2020, Bémal was part of Ouham-Pende.

History

Central African Republic Bush War (2004-2007)

In December 2005, APRD attacked Bémal. ^[1]

Presidential Guard soldiers led by Lt. Eugene Ngaïkosset visited Bémal on 11 February 2006 at 1 PM in revenge for the APRD attack on 29 January. As they arrived at the village, the villagers fled and the PG troops shot toward them. They killed a policeman and a civil servant who worked at customs offices. In addition, Presidential Guard looted houses and hospitals. As a result, 1.800 Bémal residents fled to the bush and Chad. ^{[2] [3]}

Following an attack on the commercial truck near the Chad-CAR border by an unknown group on 15 March 2006, 75 Presidential Guard troops revisited Bémal on 22 March 2006 evening. On the next day morning, they beheaded a village school teacher on his way to the house from the market. ^[4]

ANT raided Bémal in December 2006. They stole 32 cows, farming tools, and peanuts. ^[5]

Central African Republic Civil War (2012-present)

ANT visited Bémal on 3 April 2014. They killed three people and stole three motorcycles. ^[6] On 24 April 2014, an unknown armed group from Chad attacked Bémal. They killed the villagers and burned houses. Four days after the attack, ex-Séléka troops occupied Bémal. ^[7]

On 2 January 2018, the ex-Séléka group led by General Ahmat Bahar occupied Bémal. ^[8] This led the residents to flee to Paoua and Chad. With the presence of MINUSCA, the villagers gradually returned to Bémal in April 2018. ^[9] Nevertheless, the villagers were still afraid to go to their farming field on the village outskirts fearing the presence of the armed group. ^[10]

Economy

There is a market in Bemal that opens on Thursday and Saturday. ^[11]

Education

Bemal has one school. ^[12]

Healthcare

A health post is available in Bemal. ^[13]

Security

There is one police station in Bemal. ^[10]

References

1. Kälin, Walter (18 April 2008). Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Walter Kälin : addendum (PDF) (Report). United Nations. p. 7. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
2. HRW 2008, p. 52.
3. 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 (PDF) (Report). MINUSCA. p. 65. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
4. HRW 2008, p. 53-54.
5. HRW 2008, p. 74.
6. Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "Nouvelle incursion des soldats Tchadiens en Centrafrique". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
7. Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "Paoua et Bémal pris en otage par des groupes armés". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
8. Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "Drame humanitaire à Paoua : le gouvernement parle d'une entente avec les groupes armés". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
9. ACF 2018, p. 1.
10. de Matos, Laura; Nzam, Samuel Thierry. "RCA : les déplacés de la région de Paoua rentrent chez eux". information.tv5monde.com. TV5Monde. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
11. ACF, ACF (13 December 2019). RCA : Evaluation Multisectorielle à Betoko-Bébingui et sur l'axe Bemal-Bembere (Préfecture de l'Ouham-Pendé) (ACF/13.12.2019) (PDF) (Report). p. 9. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
12. ACF 2018, p. 9.
13. World Health Organization (March 2017). Enquête rapide sur l'estimation des besoins de santé des populations affectées par la crise en République Centrafricaine en 2016 (PDF) (Report). p. DDD. Retrieved 16 April 2023.

Bibliography

• ACF, ACF (22 July 2018). Evaluation Multisectorielle RRM (MSA): Rapport Préliminaire(Commune de Mia-Pendé/Sous-préfecture de Paoua /Préfecture de l’Ouham-Pendé) (PDF) (Report).
• HRW, HRW (18 April 2008). State of Anarchy: Rebellion and Abuses against Civilians (PDF) (Report). Human Rights Watch.