Local sources reported on Sunday that a patrol linked to Russian forces carried out an armed attack on a weekly market in a border town in the Central African Republic, killing 12 Sudanese civilians and injuring five others.
According to accounts cited by media, the attack took place on Friday at the market in the town of Kabo, located near the Sudan, Central African Republic border. The incident is described as the first of its kind in the area.
Sources said the victims were Sudanese nomadic herders who were present in the market and carrying personal weapons. Russian forces reportedly demanded that they surrender their arms, but when they refused, the patrol opened fire, killing 12 people on the spot and wounding five others.
Ahmed Al Tijani, a relative of the victims, told media that the Russian force involved used two troop transport vehicles, two combat vehicles, and a surveillance drone that advanced ahead of the patrol during the operation.
Russian Wagner forces deployed around gold mining sites across parts of Africa have intensified patrols along the border strip between Sudan and the Central African Republic. These patrols have repeatedly targeted gatherings of Sudanese nomads inside Central African territory, resulting in dozens of deaths in recent months, according to local sources.
The incident adds to growing concerns over the lack of accountability surrounding foreign military operations in border regions, where civilian communities remain highly vulnerable to armed violence.
