AM DAFOCK, Central African Republic — The United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is significantly stepping up security at its base in the northeastern town of Am Dafock following a coordinated assault last month. The decision, announced Tuesday by the mission’s Head of Office, comes in the wake of a violent incursion that targeted UN troops and forced thousands of civilians to flee the strategic border town.
During a recent press briefing, the MINUSCA Head of Office confirmed that while the immediate situation in the area has largely settled down, the mission must remain vigilant. As a direct response to the violence, the peacekeeping force is actively setting up a series of new operational measures to ensure that security is permanently strengthened at its temporary base in Am Dafock.
The heightened security protocols follow a severe attack that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, June 30, 2026. According to UN reports, the town was targeted by fighters from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) alongside former Central African rebels.
At the time of the assault, UN troops from the Zambian contingent were conducting a routine patrol aimed at protecting local civilians when they were unexpectedly caught in the crossfire. The ensuing clashes resulted in the deaths of members of local military security forces as well as multiple civilians. Additionally, three UN peacekeepers were wounded during the firefight.
The violence triggered a massive humanitarian crisis in the region, forcing more than 16,000 people to flee their homes to seek safety.
The geopolitical stakes of the region remain incredibly high. Am Dafock is located directly on the volatile border between the Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan. The United Nations has noted that Sudan’s RSF is currently using the town as a key logistical hub for its operations. Furthermore, this strategic area regularly faces cross-border incursions by various armed groups operating on both sides of the frontier, making the protection of civilians an ongoing and complex challenge for the Zambian contingent and other international peacekeeping forces.