2021 Boyo killings
Between 6 and 16 December 2021, a number of Muslim civilians were killed and injured by Anti-balaka fighters supported by government forces and Russian mercenaries in the Boyo commune, located in the Ouaka prefecture of the Central African Republic (CAR). These civilians were attacked for their alleged links with Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) rebels. Exact dates and details of the events vary depending on sources. The attacks are part of the larger CAR Civil War which has been ongoing since 2012. Events. According to CorbeauNews, on 7 December 2021, Central African  Armed Forces (FACA) and Russian private military contractors (PMCs) conducted ID checks in Boyo village. As the majority of civilians did not have any documents, they were released. On 9 December, a nearby position of the armed forces was reportedly attacked by Union for Peace in the Central African Republic UPC rebels, with the attack being repelled. Russian mercenaries, believing that the Boyo population was complicit in the attacks, recruited local Anti-balaka warlords from Bambari, Tagbara and Atongo-Bakari. Their fighters attacked the local Muslim population, reportedly overseen by the mercenaries and FACA, killing between 11 and 39 civilians . According to United Nations MINUSCA (UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR) peacekeepers, the massacre took place on 6 and 7 December. Anti-balaka fighters reportedly killed approximately 15 civilians with additional reported cases of amputation, extortion and destruction of homes, displacing 1,500 civilians. According to Radio France Internationale (RFI), dozens of small groups of fighters participated in the attack. They also reported beheadings, people being buried alive, and possible mass graves. On the same day, a Fulani camp, located east of the town, was reportedly attacked, resulting in two deaths. During the attack on Boyo Anti-balaka militiamen  also raped five women and girls and burned and looted 547 houses. The women were reportedly raped because they were accused of being wives of rebel fighters. The victims did not receive any medical or psychological assistance, as the health center of Boyo have been looted and was not operational at the time of the events. On 10 December, at around 22:20 local time, Anti-balaka fighters riding 10 motorcycles exchanged gunfire with a foot patrol of peacekeeping forces in Tagbara. Their attack was repelled and militants abandoned four motorcycles and ammunition. No deaths or injuries were reported, but 160  civilians took shelter at a MINUSCA base in Tagbara. On 11 December, in another part of Ouaka prefecture, Anti-balaka fighters supported by FACA and Russian mercenaries attacked Goya village near Kouango, killing more than 10 Muslim civilians whohad been leaving their mosque following the 15:00 prayer. On 14 or 15 December, Anti-balaka fighters — with air support from PMC Wagner — launched an attack on Gallougou village. They arrested Didier Wangay with his family (including his son, wife, niece and nephew). He was the former mayor of Bambari and a member of the UPC until 2018. He was summarily executed  along with his family and his severed head was publicly presented in Bambari. Nouvellesplus reported that on 15 December, Boyo was attacked by Anti-balaka fighters led by General Sosengue. The attack reportedly lead to deaths and injures. It is unclear whether this news refers to already mentioned events or some other massacre. On the same day, MINUSCA peacekeeping forces were deployed to Boyo in an attempt to restore peace. They met with local authorities and the civilian population calling on communities to reconcile. Some civilians were reportedly displeased with peacekeeper deployment, demanding the presence of FACA soldiers instead. On  December 16, Anti-balaka fighters attacked Zimako village, located on the Ippy–Gallougou axis, killing five people, including two Muslims and two Christians, before withdrawing towards Boyo. Aftermath. On 19 December, about 100 survivors of the massacre reportedly arrived in Bambari aboard three vehicles. On 24 December, the Coalition of Patriots for Change, a partnership of major CAR rebel groups including UPC, officially condemned the Boyo massacre and denied involvement, accusing mercenaries employed by government forces. On 6 January 2022 Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown accompanied by the humanitarian  community went on a mission in Boyo. She met with victims of violence in the community. They said that armed men stole seeds and farming equipment making it harder for civilians to grow crops.