The interior of one of the ex-Seleka militia headquarters, who now control the city of Bria.
Bria is one of the strongholds of the "Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique" (FPRC), an ex-Seleka faction, and the capital of Haute-Kotto, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic.
Since the dissolution of the Seleka, different factions have formed, now divided among alliances and conflicts, such as the Union Pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC), led by Ali Darras, the Mouvement Patriotique pour le Centrafrique (MPC), led by Al-Kathim, and the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC), led by Noureddine Adam.
Seleka in Sango language means "coalition": it is an alliance formed in August 2012 by political parties and rebel forces opposed to the president of Central Africa, François Bozizé. Composed in part by Chadian, Libyan and Sudanese mercenaries, it is characterized by an ethnic coalition of muslim religion, in an 80% Christian State.

Helene, 30, a farmer and mother of three children, lives in the IDP camp near the church of Bria. In March 2017, a group of former ex-Seleka FPRC militiamen robbed and burnt her alive. Due to the bad healthcare of the country, she was not provided any treatment. Her leg and part of her body is still in critical conditions.

Destroyed houses in the city of Bria. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area. The largest one, known as Pk3, developed in front of the MINUSCA base, and hosts about 40,000 IDPs.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

FPRC militia (ex-Seleka) guarding the gendarmerie and police headquarters. In Bria, the FPRC militiamen control the city, where they have founded the gendarmerie and the police.
Bria is one of the strongholds of the "Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique" (FPRC), an ex-Seleka faction, and the capital of Haute-Kotto, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic.
Since the dissolution of the Seleka, different factions have formed, now divided among alliances and conflicts, such as the Union Pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC), led by Ali Darras, the Mouvement Patriotique pour le Centrafrique (MPC), led by Al-Kathim, and the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC), led by Noureddine Adam.
Seleka in Sango language means "coalition": it is an alliance formed in August 2012 by political parties and rebel forces opposed to the president of Central Africa, François Bozizé. Composed in part by Chadian, Libyan and Sudanese mercenaries, it is characterized by an ethnic coalition of muslim religion, in an 80% Christian State.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

An IDP camp near the Baptist church of Bria. Here live hundreds of people, many families live in the ruins of the houses destroyed during the 2016 riots or recover bricks from destroyed houses to build new homes.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

In the IDP camp of Bria, known as Pk3, a group of anti-Balaka militia show their weapons as a sign of strength and threat to the ex-seleka militias. This is a representation of what could happen to their enemies. The anti-Balaka militias control all of Pk3, the largest IDP camp in the city of Bria, which is home to about 40,000 people (OCHA data).
Anti-Balaka militiamen control the camp and the surrounding area, despite the continued presence of the MINUSCA contingent.

ANTI-Balaka

The anti-Balaka militias were formed in 2009, to fight against Zaraguinas, bandits and cutters of highways, active in the north and west of the Central African Republic.

The name is often translated as "anti-machete", but its origin comes from a language of young illiterates who were part of the armed opposition of Seleka: "anti-balles à ti laka". The term "laka" means AK-47: anti-balaka are therefore against those who use AK-47.

On March 24, 2013, after the seizure of power by the Muslim-majority Seleka rebels, serious tensions broke out between the Muslim and Christian populations and this led to violence between the two communities.
The support of the Seleka in favor of the Muslim community and their abuses against the Christian community led to a violent insurgency of the anti-Balaka against the Seleka and the Muslim community, which resulted in massacres committed by both sides.

When the Third Civil War began in the Central African Republic, the term anti-Balaka spread to insurgents, mostly Christians and animists, who took up arms against the Seleka. It also included the supporters of president Bozizé, whose government was overturned by Seleka rebels, and former soldiers of the Forces Army of the Central African Republic, opposed to the new president, Michel Djotodia.

Country: Central African Republic Province: Archidiocèse de Bangui City: Bangui

Tair Issene. During the 2013 unrests in Bangui, a group of anti-Balaka militias tortured him with machetes.

Country: Central African Republic Province: Archidiocèse de Bangui City: Bangui

Mahamat Moussa, 25 years old. During the 2013 unrests in Bangui, a group of anti-Balaka militants tortured him by amputating his foot.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The anti-Balaka captain Ramazanie, together with some militiamen, checks the road that takes to Pk3, the biggest IDP camp of the city of Bria. Anti-Balaka militiamen control the camp and the surrounding area, despite the continued presence of the MINUSCA contingent.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Sandje Andre, 15, wounded in both hands, chest and leg by a grenade falling from an ex-seleka militia car.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The largest IDP camp, known as Pk3, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base which hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

An IDP camp near the Baptist church of Bria. Here live hundreds of people, many families live in the ruins of the houses destroyed during the 2016 riots or recover bricks from destroyed houses to build new homes.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The interior of one of the ex-Seleka militia headquarters that now control the city of Bria.
Bria is one of the strongholds of the "Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique" (FPRC), an ex-Seleka faction, and the capital of Haute-Kotto, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic.
Since the dissolution of the Seleka, different factions have formed, now divided among alliances and conflicts, such as the Union Pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC), led by Ali Darras, the Mouvement Patriotique pour le Centrafrique (MPC), led by Al-Kathim, and the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC), led by Noureddine Adam.
Seleka in Sango language means "coalition": it is an alliance formed in August 2012 by political parties and rebel forces opposed to the president of Central Africa, François Bozizé. Composed in part by Chadian, Libyan and Sudanese mercenaries, it is characterized by an ethnic coalition of muslim religion, in an 80% Christian State.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Bria City Hospital. A patient suffering from malaria. There is almost no health system in the country. People often arrive in the hospitals in very serious conditions. Frequently, a set of seemingly minor illnesses add up, causing a serious condition in people. The lack of basic care for the majority of the population is one of the aggravating factors for the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Bria City Hospital. A woman hospitalized for an infection aggravated by other diseases and lack of care. The woman was assisted by her husband. There is almost no health system in the country. People often arrive in the hospitals in very serious conditions. Frequently, a set of seemingly minor illnesses add up, causing a serious condition in people. The lack of basic care for the majority of the population is one of the aggravating factors for the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Bria City Hospital. A patient suffering from malaria. There is almost no health system in the country. People often arrive in the hospitals in very serious conditions. Frequently, a set of seemingly minor illnesses add up, causing a serious condition in people. The lack of basic care for the majority of the population is one of the aggravating factors for the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The school of the city of Bria has two thousand students and ten classes, the desks are in the courtyard and classes are divided among different subjects and according to the age of the students. The school is not enough for all of them. All teachers have been chosen and hired by the ex-Seleka FPRC militiamen.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Ex-Seleka militiamen guarding a headquarters in the city of Bria. In Bria, the FPRC militiamen control the city, where they have founded the gendarmerie and the police.
Bria is one of the strongholds of the "Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique" (FPRC), an ex-Seleka faction, and the capital of Haute-Kotto, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic.
Since the dissolution of the Seleka, different factions have formed, now divided among alliances and conflicts, such as the Union Pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC), led by Ali Darras, the Mouvement Patriotique pour le Centrafrique (MPC), led by Al-Kathim, and the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC), led by Noureddine Adam.
Seleka in Sango language means "coalition": it is an alliance formed in August 2012 by political parties and rebel forces opposed to the president of Central Africa, François Bozizé. Composed in part by Chadian, Libyan and Sudanese mercenaries, it is characterized by an ethnic coalition of muslim religion, in an 80% Christian State.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The IDP camp around the church of Bria is home to about a thousand people, many of them are in poor health conditions. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Raymond Balekouzou, teacher, who now lives in a classroom of a school that is used to accommodate more families in the IDP camp near the church in the city of Bria.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

A group of children in front of one of the wells inside the Pk3, the largest IDP camp in the area of Bria developed in front of the MINUSCA base, which hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

One of the wells inside the pk3 The biggest IDP camp in the area of Bria developed in front of the MINUSCA base, has about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, the tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area. focus the four fields located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

A Catholic mass inside the largest IDP camp, known as Pk3, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base and hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

In the IDP camp of Bria, known as Pk3, a group of anti-Balaka militia show their weapons as a sign of strength and threat to the ex-seleka militias. This is a representation of what could happen to their enemies. The anti-Balaka militias control all of Pk3, the largest IDP camp in the city of Bria, which is home to about 40,000 people (OCHA data).
Anti-Balaka militiamen control the camp and the surrounding area, despite the continued presence of the MINUSCA contingent.

ANTI-Balaka

The anti-Balaka militias were formed in 2009, to fight against Zaraguinas, bandits and cutters of highways, active in the north and west of the Central African Republic.

The name is often translated as "anti-machete", but its origin comes from a language of young illiterates who were part of the armed opposition of Seleka: "anti-balles à ti laka". The term "laka" means AK-47: anti-balaka are therefore against those who use AK-47.

On March 24, 2013, after the seizure of power by the Muslim-majority Seleka rebels, serious tensions broke out between the Muslim and Christian populations and this led to violence between the two communities.
The support of the Seleka in favor of the Muslim community and their abuses against the Christian community led to a violent insurgency of the anti-Balaka against the Seleka and the Muslim community, which resulted in massacres committed by both sides.

When the Third Civil War began in the Central African Republic, the term anti-Balaka spread to insurgents, mostly Christians and animists, who took up arms against the Seleka. It also included the supporters of president Bozizé, whose government was overturned by Seleka rebels, and former soldiers of the Forces Army of the Central African Republic, opposed to the new president, Michel Djotodia.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The largest IDP camp, known as Pk3, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base which hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Children head to fill the tanks to one of the wells inside the pk3, the biggest IDP camp in the Bria area, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base and which hosts about 40,000 IDPs. There are thousands of children who do not have the opportunity to attend classes in a school. There are thousands of children without the possibility of attending classes in a school. The city school of Bria has about two thousand pupils, a limited number of teachers and classes. The school in the PK3 does not have the necessary resources to provide an education to the large number of children of the camp. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Children head to fill the tanks to one of the wells inside the pk3, the biggest IDP camp in the Bria area, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base and which hosts about 40,000 IDPs. There are thousands of children who do not have the opportunity to attend classes in a school. There are thousands of children without the possibility of attending classes in a school. The city school of Bria has about two thousand pupils, a limited number of teachers and classes. The school in the PK3 does not have the necessary resources to provide an education to the large number of children of the camp. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Interior of a building used to accommodate displaced people in the community of the Independent Baptist Church of Bria.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The IDP camp around the church of Bria is home to about a thousand people, many of them are in poor health conditions. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Young FPRC militia (ex-Seleka) guarding the gendarmerie and police headquarters. In Bria, the FPRC militiamen control the city, where they have founded the gendarmerie and the police.
Bria is one of the strongholds of the "Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique" (FPRC), an ex-Seleka faction, and the capital of Haute-Kotto, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic.
Since the dissolution of the Seleka, different factions have formed, now divided among alliances and conflicts, such as the Union Pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC), led by Ali Darras, the Mouvement Patriotique pour le Centrafrique (MPC), led by Al-Kathim, and the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC), led by Noureddine Adam.
Seleka in Sango language means "coalition": it is an alliance formed in August 2012 by political parties and rebel forces opposed to the president of Central Africa, François Bozizé. Composed in part by Chadian, Libyan and Sudanese mercenaries, it is characterized by an ethnic coalition of muslim religion, in an 80% Christian State.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

A MINUSCA contingent patrol in the streets of Bria. The peace contingent constantly patrols the streets of the city and its presence partly avoids the rekindling of tensions and clashes. The city of Bria is still controlled by Seleka militias. The biggest IDP camp is under the control of anti-Balaka militias.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

A Zambian soldier of the MINUSCA contingent during the guard duty in the base. Outside the base of the contingent, there is an IDP camp called Pk3 which houses about 40,000 people (OCHA data) and a large group of anti-balaka militias of the region.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

MINUSCA contingent patrols in the streets of Bria. The morning when this image was taken, the presence of the contingent was very strong, given the alleged arrest of a Seleka militant. The peace contingent constantly patrols the streets of the city, the presence of MINUSCA partly avoids the rekindling of tensions and clashes. The city of Bria is still controlled by the Seleka militias. The biggest IDP camp is under the control of anti-Balaka militias.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Destroyed houses in the city of Bria. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area. The largest one, known as Pk3, developed in front of the MINUSCA base, and hosts about 40,000 IDPs.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Destroyed houses in the city of Bria. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area. The largest, known as Pk3, developed in front of the MINUSCA base and hosts about 40,000 IDPs.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Destroyed houses in the city of Bria. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area. The largest, known as Pk3, developed in front of the MINUSCA base and hosts about 40,000 IDPs.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The funeral of an elderly woman who died at the age of seventy-four in the IDP camp of Bria Pk3.
The Pk3 field, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base, has about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area. focus the four fields located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The funeral of an elderly woman who died at the age of seventy-four in the IDP camp of Bria Pk3.
The Pk3 field, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base, hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The funeral of an elderly woman who died at the age of seventy-four in the IDP camp of Bria Pk3.
The Pk3 field, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base, hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

A man carries the necessary material for the construction of a roof inside the IDP camp Pk3. It developed in front of the MINUSCA base and hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Destroyed houses in the city of Bria. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area. The largest, known as Pk3, developed in front of the MINUSCA base and hosts about 40,000 IDPs.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The largest IDP camp, known as Pk3, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base which hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

A house under construction in the IDP camp Pk3, the largest camp developed in front of the MINUSCA base which hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The largest IDP camp, known as Pk3, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base which hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Mourners at the funeral of an elderly woman who died at the age of seventy-four in the IDP camp of Bria Pk3.
The Pk3 field, which developed in front of the MINUSCA base, hosts about 40,000 IDPs. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The Baptist church of Bria that host an IDP camp. Here live hundreds of people, many families live in the ruins of the houses destroyed during the 2016 riots or recover bricks from destroyed houses to build new homes.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Destroyed houses in the city of Bria. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area. The largest one, known as Pk3, developed in front of the MINUSCA base, and hosts about 40,000 IDPs.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

A family prepares the bricks necessary for the construction of a house in the IDP camp Pk3. In large areas of the country, people who fled during the clashes that happened from 2013 to today, are relocating to areas far from their areas of origin. According to OCHA, this phenomenon is one of the many that are aggravating the humanitarian emergency of the Central African Republic.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

The largest IDP camp, known as Pk3, developed in front of the MINUSCA base, has about 40,000 IDPs. The school within the camp is not sufficient for the number of children in the camp. In 2016, tensions in the city caused 73,000 IDPs throughout the surrounding area, concentrated in four camps located in the city area.

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Country: Central African Republic - Province: Haute-Kotto - City: Bria

Market in the city of Bria. The whole area is controlled by ex-seleka militias.

Country: Central African Republic Province: Archidiocèse de Bangui City: Bangui

Nadia and her daughter in her home in Bangui. Nadia was raped by the Seleka militia during the riots in 2014. Following the violence, her husband left the family.

Country: Central African Republic Province: Archidiocèse de Bangui City: Bangui

Falmata, 55 years old. During the riots, her two sons were killed by the Burundian soldiers of the MINUSCA contingent, while her daughter was raped by anti-Balaka militiamen. During the recognition of the bodies of the children, her husband had a heart attack that struck him. Now she works at a fabric stand. She placed hopes of justice in the Coordination des Organization Musulmanes de Centrafrique (COMC). This organization offers legal assistance in alleviating violence, from 2013 to the present. By collecting evidence, it tries to bring before the Special Court of the Central Republic the cases of crimes committed by the militias and by the MINUSCA contingent towards the civilian population. COMC has collected over three thousand cases.

Country: Central African Republic Province: Archidiocèse de Bangui City: Bangui

Oumarou Iti. During the 2013 u​nrests in Bangui, a group of a​nti-Balaka militias tortured h​im with machetes.