Fleeing attack, Centrafricans try to 'survive till help arrives'

Displacement and Despair: Central African Republic Border Town Becomes Latest Flashpoint

BIRAO, Central African Republic — When fighters from the rebel group Alliance for Patriotic Renewal (ASP) attacked the town of Am-Dafock on June 30, the assault was the latest eruption of violence in a region long plagued by armed incursions. The town, which sits on the Central African Republic side of the border with Sudan, has become a recurring flashpoint, and this time the consequences were immediate: hundreds of civilians, including families with young children, fled toward Birao, the main town in Vakaga prefecture, about 60 kilometres away.

Among those fleeing was Zakaria Hassan, a father who grabbed his children and a handful of belongings when the shooting started. "The rebels arrived, firing all over the place. Houses were burning. We realised that if we stayed, we might die," Hassan told reporters. His eight-month-old son was already sick, burning with fever in the makeshift tent where the family now shelters. "He's been sick for a few days. I don't have any medicine to give him," Hassan said.

The attack comes against a backdrop of decades of instability. The Central African Republic has suffered a succession of civil wars and authoritarian rulers since independence from France in 1960. While the worst of the unrest has eased, feuds persist between armed groups and the government in several regions.

A Crisis Within a Crisis

For the newly displaced, the arrival in Birao brought safety but little else. They settled near a camp that for months has hosted thousands of Sudanese refugees who have fled the war between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. The site is now overcrowded and desperately short of basic supplies.

"When it rains, everything gets wet. We have little to eat and the children are getting ill," Hassan said. "We are asking for medical care, tarps, latrines and water. We just want to live with dignity."

The humanitarian situation is worrying, according to William Chemaly, the UN refugee agency's representative in the Central African Republic. He described the conditions as "worrying," as both new arrivals and long-term refugees struggle to access even minimal services.

Students Caught in the Crossfire

The conflict has also shattered the educational ambitions of a generation. More than 30 Sudanese university students interviewed over several days said their lives had been put on hold by a war that uprooted families, halted studies, and left many unsure they would ever return home. Most are in their 20s and come from Amdafock, a border town that first served as a refuge and later a departure point as violence escalated.

Islam Ibrahim, a 20-year-old pharmacy student, fled Sudan after her father was killed during the siege of el-Fasher. She arrived at Korsi refugee camp with her mother and six sisters, leaving behind her studies. Now she volunteers to help newly arrived women and girls, drawing on medical knowledge she gained before the war interrupted her education.

But even in exile, the pressures of home have followed her. Her uncles have come to the camp urging the family to return to Sudan so her mother can settle her late father's estate. Islam fears that going back would put them in an active conflict zone and expose her and her sisters to pressure to marry relatives against their wishes.

"I only want to go back to Sudan if it's to continue my education," Islam said. "I don't want to go back to Darfur to divide my father's inheritance."

Her story is echoed across the camp, where students described dashed hopes of a quick return. Many believed their displacement would be temporary, imagining they would go home to complete their degrees once the fighting stopped. Instead, that hope has grown increasingly distant.

The experiences of these students reflect a broader educational divide created by Sudan's war. Millions of school pupils and university students in the region have seen their schooling interrupted, with no clear path to resumption.

A Cycle of Displacement

The situation at the border highlights how the conflicts in Sudan and the Central African Republic have become intertwined. Sudanese refugees fleeing the RSF and army clashes are crossing into CAR, while CAR residents are being forced from their homes by rebel offensives linked to regional power struggles. Each wave of displacement adds pressure to fragile host communities.

For now, the displaced in Birao wait, uncertain of what comes next. Parents worry about their children's health and futures. Students cling to the hope of returning to classrooms. And families like Zakaria Hassan's live day to day, trying to survive until help arrives.

"We thought we'd be back a few days later," Hassan said. "Today, we have nothing left."