The UNHCR has reported that over 14,000 people have fled the Central African Republic due to an uptick of fighting to seek refuge in a remote area in DR Congo in the past week. The refugees have arrived in the remote village of Kanzawi in DR Congo’s northern Bas-Uele province, which is inundated with tens of thousands of refugees from previous outbursts of fighting.
The refugees have reported fleeing fighting between two Anti-Balaka groups in the area of Kouango, just across the border. It is the latest of a series of refugee movements into northern DRC.
In less than a year, the number of CAR refugees in DRC has grown from around 102,000 to more than 182,000 not including the latest arrivals.
In December 2012, the Seleka, a coalition of largely Muslim groups toppled the CAR government. The Anti-Balaka, composed primarily of Christians and animists, formed to counter the brutality of the Seleka.
