Birao

Birao is the capital of Vakaga, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic and was an administrative post in the colony of Ubangui-Shari.[1] In March 2007, the town was almost completely burnt down in the fighting between rebels and government troops in the area. As of February 2020, Birao is controlled by the Movement of Central African Liberators for Justice (MLCJ).[2]

Birao
Birao after being burnt down during the Central African Republic Civil War (2012–present)
Birao
Coordinates: 10.294°N 22.782°E / 10.294; 22.782
Country Central African Republic
PrefectureVakaga
Elevation
468 m (1,536 ft)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total10,178
Boy playing with a burnt lamp in Birao. The town was almost completely burnt down in March 2007 during fighting between rebels and government troops.

History

Under Bokassa

Jean-Bédel Bokassa, the military ruler of the Central African Republic in the 1960s and 1970s, sent the family of Alexandre Banza to Birao after Banza attempted to overthrow him. Birao was isolated from the rest of the country and Banza's family was monitored by Bokassa. Banza's wife and nine children were kept in Birao until 1970. Beouane and Goboulo, Banza's two brothers, were also kept in Birao, but were soon imprisoned.[3]

Birao was considered an undesirable place to be sent; the "disciplinary cells" in the Ngarabga Prison run by Bokassa were called Birao.[4] Later, after Bokassa had fallen from power and his execution sentence had been commuted, sending Bokassa to Birao was considered a possibility because the remote location of the place would separate him from his political allies.[5]

Central African Republic Bush War
Main article: Central African Republic Bush War

In November 2004, at least 20 people were killed in a raid on the remote town of Birao in the north-east of the Central African Republic.[6]

2006

On October 29, 2006, a force of around 150 rebels took the town of Birao, which is close to the border with Sudan and Chad. The rebels from the UFDR movement say some government troops joined them, and others were taken prisoner. The CAR government accused Sudan of being behind that attack.[7]

On November 14, France, the traditional backer of the CAR government, offered the CAR military assistance in the form of logistics and aerial reconnaissance. France already has a regular 200-soldier contingent in the CAR whose strength is comparable to the CAR's ill-equipped 5,000-soldier army.[8] On that day, the UFDR announced that they had suspended military activities in favour of negotiations.[9]

On November 17, Chad's parliament approved troop deployment to the CAR.[10] The CAR government appealed to the United Nations to send troops,[11] and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for the attacks in CAR's border with Darfur to end.[12] Chad's decision to deploy troops to the CAR came as hopes for a deal with Sudan over peacekeeping forces in Darfur proved premature.[13][14]

On December 14, France admitted having performed air raids against UFDR positions since the beginning of December, employing Mirage F1 fighters and helicopter gunships, and including an attack on the UFDR-controlled town of Birao. French Defence Ministry spokesman said the action was "in line with international calls to stabilise the region". UFDR reports claim that the raids had a devastating effect on the civilian population.[15]

2007
Birao in April 2006, after much of the town was burned down

On April 13, 2007, a peace agreement between the government and the UFDR was signed in Birao. The agreement provides for an amnesty for the UFDR, its recognition as a political party, and the integration of its fighters into the army.[16]

In March 2007, the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity attacked the French army and the armed forces of the Central African Republic (FACA), which held Birao at the time.[17] Students who used to attend the secondary school in Birao were in the UFDR forces.[17]

Later fighting

On November 15, 2010, United Nations forces returned control of Birao to the government of the Central African Republic.[18] Later in November, a rebel group called the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace captured Birao.[18] On December 1, 2010, Birao was captured by the army of Chad, on behalf of the government of the Central African Republic. The Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central Africa (FPRC) captured the town in 2014, but were displaced in July 2019 by forces from the Movement of Central African Liberators for Justice (MLCJ).[2] On February 17, 2020, members of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central Africa (FPRC) attacked MINUSCA forces in Birao, leading to 12 FPRC militants being killed.[2]

Climate

Birao has a Semi-arid climate (BSh). The dry season is hotter than the wet season.

Climate data for Lujulo
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 34.7
(94.5)		 37.3
(99.1)		 39.4
(102.9)		 39.7
(103.5)		 37.9
(100.2)		 35
(95)		 31.4
(88.5)		 30.8
(87.4)		 32.1
(89.8)		 34.5
(94.1)		 35
(95)		 33.6
(92.5)		 35.1
(95.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 23.7
(74.7)		 26
(79)		 28.8
(83.8)		 30.4
(86.7)		 30.2
(86.4)		 28.3
(82.9)		 25.7
(78.3)		 25.3
(77.5)		 25.9
(78.6)		 26.5
(79.7)		 23.9
(75.0)		 22.5
(72.5)		 26.4
(79.6)
Average low °C (°F) 12.7
(54.9)		 14.8
(58.6)		 18.3
(64.9)		 21.1
(70.0)		 22.5
(72.5)		 21.6
(70.9)		 20.1
(68.2)		 19.8
(67.6)		 19.7
(67.5)		 18.6
(65.5)		 12.8
(55.0)		 11.4
(52.5)		 17.8
(64.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1
(0.0)		 20
(0.8)		 67
(2.6)		 107
(4.2)		 189
(7.4)		 193
(7.6)		 146
(5.7)		 38
(1.5)		 1
(0.0)		 0
(0)		 762
(29.8)
Source: Climate-Data.org[19]
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See also

Notes
  1. Kalck pg.24
  2. Agence France-Presse (February 19, 2020). "CAR says 12 rebels killed in clash with UN troops". Al Jazeera English.
  3. Titley, pg. 34
  4. Titley, pg. 37
  5. Titley, pg. 203
  6. "Raid on CAR town 'leaves 20 dead'". BBC. 2004-11-23. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  7. "CAR rebels seize town near Chad". BBC. 2006-10-30. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  8. "France renders last minute support to Central African Republic", Afrol News, November 14, 2006
  9. "CAR rebels make fresh call for talk", Independent Online, November 14, 2006
  10. "Chadian parliament votes in favor of troop deployment to Central African Republic", November 17, 2006
  11. "Central Africa's Bozize asks EU to push for UN troops", Reuters, November 17, 2006
  12. "Annan Urges End to Attacks Near Central African Republic's Border", United Nations, November 11, 2006
  13. "US Rice hopes Sudan will okay Darfur force", Sudan Tribune, November 17, 2006
  14. "Sudan 'did not' give ok over international force for Darfur - top official" Archived 2008-04-11 at the Wayback Machine, Kuwait News Agency, November 17, 2006
  15. "France admits air raids on Darfur neighbours" Archived July 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, The Independent, 15 December 2006
  16. "Central African Republic, rebels sign peace deal", Associated Press (USA Today), April 13, 2007.
  17. Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations: (articles 19, 22 and 35 of the Constitution) : Third Item on the Agenda : Information and Reports on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations. Rep. no. 3 (Part 1A). Geneva: International Labour Conference, 99th Session, 2010. International Labour Office. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. pg. 219 <https://books.google.com/books?id=mKQYAP67eh8C&dq=Birao&source=gbs_navlinks_s>
  18. Thurston, Alex. "Renewed Violence Prompts Concern in Central African Republic." Africa Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Dec. 2010. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2010/1203/Renewed-violence-prompts-concern-in-Central-African-Republic>.
  19. "Climate: Birao". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved August 14, 2019.

References
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