Minister outlines security situation

Defence Minister Jean-Jacques Demafouth acknowledged that the country’s borders with neighbouring countries were somewhat porous and insecure, and this had resulted in several incursions from outside. He was addressing a news conference recently on the security situation in CAR, following the withdrawal in February of the UN peacekeeping mission, MINURCA. The ongoing activities of poachers and highway robbers had resulted in the depopulation of several localities in the hinterland and the government had deployed troops in all prefectures to secure the areas where intense criminal activities were occurring. However, he expressed regret that a lack of adequate vehicles had hampered the effectiveness of the security forces.