It all started right after midnight, just like rumors had announced it.
We could very clearly hear the sound of exploding grenades, and riffles shooting, getting closer and closer as the trouble makers were making their way towards the city center, making sure to stop by most of the international NGOs on the way to pillage them.
It is only towards 1AM or so that I started stopping to try to sleep as by then, the shootings and grenades were exploding across the street, and right in front of the Cathedral. We could hear the shouts of the rebels. I even managed to peak through the windows blinds, making sure my lights were off of course, to see what was going on. I just wanted to make sure that the group was not making its way to our rooms to attack us. But man, did I manage to stay equanimous, and clear minded. My first reflex was to prepare a go-bag, just in case. In some ways it reminded me so much of my very first night when trekking the Anapurna last year. Hell of a storm!
Later we learnt that the rebels were none of the anti balaka nor ex seleka, as per it had been so far. This weekend saw the rise of a new group of rebellious local youth angry at all foreign presence in the country, especially UN forces and French citizens, and also asking for the transition president to be removed from duty. It so happens that the president is actually at a UN summit in the US at the moment. And it has all turned out into an unorganized conflict, therefore unpredictable either. Which is the part that is most worrying.
Seconds felt like days.
Helicopters were making their rounds very near us, making me suspect that the group of people they were looking for was the one hiding right in front of our windows. For a split second it made me start strategizing on ways to communicate their positions to the aircrafts.
By 4AM, Philippe calls me up, alarmed telling me that Cordaid's offices are being attacked and asking if I have any phone number that could provide them back up. Shit has hit the fan! If he is worried, given his 20+ years of experience in such situations all over Africa, then it is time for me to worry a bit as well I guess. I gave him the numbers I have.
Because he is asking for help to rescue locals, all the international forces turned us down, especially the UN! No wonder why the locals are building up hatred feelings towards us. They work for us, and protect our assets, and when shot hits the fan, all we care about are ourselves. Shame on us!
And so, basically, we stayed up all night, pacing outside our patio doors, trying to find solutions, and speculating about what was happening. It is ridiculous that in such context, there is no real security procedure in place. Even the emergency numbers of the French embassy did not work.
Turned out that this specific group of rebels spent so much time trying to break into Cordaid's offices that it slowed them down on further pillaging other NGOs. The two night guards managed to climb the walls and barbed wire to hide at the neighbors till dawn.
In any case, Philippe, the director of Cordaid is quite a cowboy! Ok he is "metisse", but first thing he did this morning was to walk the kilometer or so to his office to check on the damages and on the guards. Pffff!!! He was even ready to jump in his car to go rescue the two local guards last night! I say BRAVO to that!
As I am typing this, explosions and shots just started again...not far from here. Not a good sign.
I am still not registered at the French embassy, so not sure how things would go if we had to evacuate. In any case, since the airport is on lock down, it seems that the only way out would be to cross the river over to the DRC. From one conflict zone to another one.
Ok, I shall write more later. Maman, ne t'inquiete pas trop, si j'ai le temps d'ecrire tout ca c'est que la situation est quand secure. ;o)
We could very clearly hear the sound of exploding grenades, and riffles shooting, getting closer and closer as the trouble makers were making their way towards the city center, making sure to stop by most of the international NGOs on the way to pillage them.
It is only towards 1AM or so that I started stopping to try to sleep as by then, the shootings and grenades were exploding across the street, and right in front of the Cathedral. We could hear the shouts of the rebels. I even managed to peak through the windows blinds, making sure my lights were off of course, to see what was going on. I just wanted to make sure that the group was not making its way to our rooms to attack us. But man, did I manage to stay equanimous, and clear minded. My first reflex was to prepare a go-bag, just in case. In some ways it reminded me so much of my very first night when trekking the Anapurna last year. Hell of a storm!
Later we learnt that the rebels were none of the anti balaka nor ex seleka, as per it had been so far. This weekend saw the rise of a new group of rebellious local youth angry at all foreign presence in the country, especially UN forces and French citizens, and also asking for the transition president to be removed from duty. It so happens that the president is actually at a UN summit in the US at the moment. And it has all turned out into an unorganized conflict, therefore unpredictable either. Which is the part that is most worrying.
Seconds felt like days.
Helicopters were making their rounds very near us, making me suspect that the group of people they were looking for was the one hiding right in front of our windows. For a split second it made me start strategizing on ways to communicate their positions to the aircrafts.
By 4AM, Philippe calls me up, alarmed telling me that Cordaid's offices are being attacked and asking if I have any phone number that could provide them back up. Shit has hit the fan! If he is worried, given his 20+ years of experience in such situations all over Africa, then it is time for me to worry a bit as well I guess. I gave him the numbers I have.
Because he is asking for help to rescue locals, all the international forces turned us down, especially the UN! No wonder why the locals are building up hatred feelings towards us. They work for us, and protect our assets, and when shot hits the fan, all we care about are ourselves. Shame on us!
And so, basically, we stayed up all night, pacing outside our patio doors, trying to find solutions, and speculating about what was happening. It is ridiculous that in such context, there is no real security procedure in place. Even the emergency numbers of the French embassy did not work.
Turned out that this specific group of rebels spent so much time trying to break into Cordaid's offices that it slowed them down on further pillaging other NGOs. The two night guards managed to climb the walls and barbed wire to hide at the neighbors till dawn.
In any case, Philippe, the director of Cordaid is quite a cowboy! Ok he is "metisse", but first thing he did this morning was to walk the kilometer or so to his office to check on the damages and on the guards. Pffff!!! He was even ready to jump in his car to go rescue the two local guards last night! I say BRAVO to that!
As I am typing this, explosions and shots just started again...not far from here. Not a good sign.
I am still not registered at the French embassy, so not sure how things would go if we had to evacuate. In any case, since the airport is on lock down, it seems that the only way out would be to cross the river over to the DRC. From one conflict zone to another one.
Ok, I shall write more later. Maman, ne t'inquiete pas trop, si j'ai le temps d'ecrire tout ca c'est que la situation est quand secure. ;o)
"La situation est quand même secure"??!
ReplyDeleteEuh...c'est pas vraiment l'impression qu'on en a...😟
Ne crois-tu pas que les risques sont trop grands pour rester sur place?
Ici, c'est un peu la panique à la lecture de ton post. Et j'imagine au Maroc...
Reading your updates on Dare2Change is both compelling and scary. You bring new meaning to the word 'humanitarian work' and your insights bring into focus the challenges that we still face in the world of 'development.' I look fwd to the day when this will be a distant memory for us all while we share life stories over wine and beers ......
ReplyDelete