I'm watching the PBS News hour and they are doing a story on the current state of CAR. Nasty scary stuff. I hope everyone is being safe that's traveling there.

Brett

Pretty damn nuts!!!

Damn shame for sure. I have hunted east and southern Africa extensively but my time in CAR was truly the highlight of all my African hunting.

The endemic species, the plants, they are all so unique. In writing about it, I called it "Eden".

It will never survive itself. Very sad.

Just received a FB post from Adam, a young American PH for CAWA.

"Small arms fire and grenades going off in Bangui, all around"

I am so fortunate to have gotten in, got all my trophies, got out, with zero problems.

It looks like the French are sending in troops. Good move, take the damn shit hole back and restore a decent government and a safe place to work and prosper.

I know, I know, not possible.

CAR has been always like that with up and down. the Frenchs there wont do anything that has not been done there before, dont hold your breath ....

They seem to be on a mission thelast few years, MALI, Car (and others hunting down terrorists !).

All we need now is Algeria

""Small arms fire and grenades going off in Bangui, all around""
The French won't stuff around.

quote:

Originally posted by 505G:
They seem to be on a mission thelast few years, MALI, Car (and others hunting down terrorists !).

All we need now is Algeria

""Small arms fire and grenades going off in Bangui, all around""
The French won't stuff around.

when i lived in Bangui, France had troops and in big numbers and Mpoko airport had airfighters and each time we had a coup we had to be evacuated : French troops were helpful because of the amount of Frenchs living and working there and the interests ... French troops are long gone for different interests that i wont discuss here ... the Vakaga district aera was already not a place to be long long time ago so nothing new ...
the Yaringas that some called roadblockers were already there even with the French army so for the ones that have been there nothing new ... and sorry for that ...

CAR, where I also lived for three years, is a case for handing over government under a UN mandate to another country. UN governance mandates have not been done for many years (South Africa in Namibia, Ethiopia in Eritrea, for ex.) but CAR has never really been able to govern itself and certainly will not be able to do so for several years. I suppose the problem is, who is willing to take it over?

i seem to recall a thread here early in the year when things first flared up. a number of posters( and local outfitters) were saying don't' worry, it will back to normal quickly. i guess this is back to normal…

Anyone here schedule to hunt in CAR soon?
Is CAWA doing business as usual?

I'm scheduled to go w/ CAWA this Feb. I've been there before and trust Erik to make the right call.

quote:

Originally posted by Pancho:
I'm scheduled to go w/ CAWA this Feb. I've been there before and trust Erik to make the right call.

I trust Erik as well, but…consider this, he is in the business of getting people to CAR. I went in 2012, a time of relative peace. All hell broke loose a week after I got out.

Steve

Hi Steve,

There is 1600 French soldiers in Bangui now.
I am leaving next Tuesday with P. Davis from Mississipi.
I know it is not like going to Seychelles but I really want to give it a try... It is such a fantastic hunting country, it's in my blood, I have to.. remember my daughter is 5 years old.

Who knows if I am right or wrong, I will be back in France for Christmas and I will let you know.
cheers
Christophe

quote:

Originally posted by ChristopheMorio:
Hi Steve,

There is 1600 French soldiers in Bangui now.
I am leaving next Tuesday with P. Davis from Mississipi.
I know it is not like going to Seychelles but I really want to give it a try... It is such a fantastic hunting country, it's in my blood, I have to.. remember my daughter is 5 years old.

Who knows if I am right or wrong, I will be back in France for Christmas and I will let you know.
cheers
Christophe

Hi Christophe.

I trust your judgement as well, perhaps your's most of all. Once in the bush…no worries. Please tell young Adam to keep his wits about him as well. Youth and exuberance you know.

And yes, as you've seen in my post's, I think CAR is Eden. There is no place like it on earth…nowhere.

We will walk for Eland together in the years ahead my friend.

Send me an email during the holidays.

Regards,

Steve

any time the UN Security Council UNANYMOUSLY( sp) agrees to do ANYTHING-(in this case, send in a peacekeeping force) you know things have turned to shit! too bad, but i would not want to go there. i have a natural aversion to hunting in a war zone and massive unrest in 1 part of a small country can quickly escalate into a nationwide disaster…

jdollar

The Ultimate safari - hunting people that hunt back !!!

The thing about CAR is, getting into the country is the most and IMO, the only dangerous part.

You are sooo far from any civilization, a nuke could go off in Bangui and you wouldn't know.

Steve

with 1000 French Legionaries and more African Union troops pouring, i don't think Bangui would be my main concern. when you leave Bangui and head to areas with no military presence- yea, i would be a "bit' concerned.no hunting trip is worth dying for and anyone who thinks they have FULL control over the situation in a remote bush area lives in a dream world. the same outfitters( who, 11 months were canceling trips) are ready to go again in a country that is even more of a basket case today than it was then. the word "genocide" seems to keep popping up. i wonder why?

Looks like things went from bad to worse. From the BBC, 12/7/12

Huge African troop surge to tackle CAR fighting
The African Union is to increase significantly the number of troops it plans to send to the Central African Republic to help end communal fighting.

The size of the AU force will rise to 6,000, France said as it moved to boost its own freshly deployed troop contingent to 1,600.

At least 394 people have died in three days of fighting in the capital Bangui alone, the Red Cross says.

The CAR has been in turmoil since the president was ousted in March.

France has been sending in more troops as part of a UN-backed operation to keep peace between the Christian and Muslim communities.

The French statement came at the end of a two-day summit of African leaders in Paris. It followed the UN vote on Thursday for a greater French and African presence in the CAR.

President Francois Hollande, in an interview with French radio and TV, praised the AU commitment, explaining that the aim was to disarm the militias and restore security with a view to eventual elections.

Some 600 French soldiers were patrolling the streets of the capital on Saturday, although the centre of the city was still reported to be in the hands of the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance.

As of Saturday, at least 394 people had died in the fighting in the capital.
The African Union already has an estimated 2,500 troops in the country and had been set to boost its size by 1,000. But a statement on the French presidency website said the AU had decided to extend its force to 6,000.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that plans advanced rapidly due to the escalation in violence
Michel Djotodia overthrew President Francois Bozize, with the backing of the Seleka. But armed gangs, mainly former Seleka rebels, now control most of the landlocked country.

An estimated 10% of CAR's 4.6 million people have fled their homes, while more than a million urgently need food aid, according to the UN.

The Muslim rebels have been accused of atrocities against Christians and fighting between Muslim and Christian militias has broken out in Bangui and elsewhere.

Christian communities have now set up so-called "anti-balaka" self-defence forces, most of them loyal to the ousted president.

'Everything has been destroyed'
The latest bloodshed in the capital is said to have started as militias loyal to Mr Bozize attacked the city.

CAR Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye says more troops are needed to stabilise his country"
Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye told the BBC the situation in his country was so chaotic he had been unable to speak to President Djotodia since the violence had escalated on Thursday.

"Everything has been destroyed. We need to restore order before the administration can begin working again," Mr Tiangaye said.

The French president said he believed security could be restored within six months. But he was clear that the current leader could not remain in place.

"You cannot leave in place a president who has been unable to do anything and who has even let things to happen," Mr Hollande said.

The French mobilisation comes hard on the heels of an operation against Islamists linked to al-Qaeda who had seized control of northern Mali and were threatening the south of the country too.

Crisis has affected entire population of 4.6 million people
10% have fled their homes
25% need food aid
Unknown number killed - several hundred in one area in two weeks
Too dangerous to go to rural areas where most killings occur
3,500 child soldiers
Most schools and hospitals outside capital looted and not functional
Currently 2,500 African peacekeepers and up to 1,600 French soldiers
Source: UN

Central African Republic profile
Late on Saturday, around 80 French troops reached the town of Bossangoa, which has also been paralysed by sectarian fighting.

Some 30 people are reported killed there in the past three days and African peacekeepers have been struggling to help nearly 1,000 displaced civilians who have fled to their base.

These civilians, mostly women and children, are crammed together on the dusty ground and had no shelter when it rained on Friday night, the BBC's Thomas Fessy reports.

Basic medication is now being distributed but the people can only wait for a lull in the fighting to fetch food and water outside, he says.

Some 40,000 Christians have sought refuge around a church in Bossangoa, which lies 300km (190 miles) north of the capital. Meanwhile, 7,000 Muslims are stranded at a school located on the other side of the town.

Not a soul was moving on the main thoroughfare between the two locations on Saturday, our correspondent says.

The prime minister said he was concerned about the danger of sectarian fighting in Bossangoa and also of the risk of an epidemic because of the large numbers of civilians crowded into a small area.

The troops were a good start but were not sufficient to stabilise the country in the long term, he warned.

well, let me think. 4.6 million population. 10% have fled their homes and 1 million are starving. the worst violence is in the rural areas and it is too dangerous to go there( in the bush??), not a soul is moving on the main road from Bangui north( and Bangui sits right on the Congo border in the south end of the country). yep, sounds like the perfect place for a fun safari……

50% refund if you're wounded by an AK and
100% money back guaranty for clients beheaded……

Brett

I think I stay away from CAR for the foreseeable future.

When the shit hits the fan in Africa you do not want to be in the same room.

quote:

Originally posted by ChristopheMorio:
Hi Steve,

There is 1600 French soldiers in Bangui now.
I am leaving next Tuesday with P. Davis from Mississipi.
I know it is not like going to Seychelles but I really want to give it a try... It is such a fantastic hunting country, it's in my blood, I have to.. remember my daughter is 5 years old.

Who knows if I am right or wrong, I will be back in France for Christmas and I will let you know.
cheers
Christophe

Christope fait tres attention a toi.

the best hunting country in the world is not worth to let your own blood there to say the least.

Phil

We wish all the guys luck going to CAR, and whoever choses to hunt there this 2014 season all the best and safety. I have hunted CAR for the last consecutive 11 years, it is a great hunting destinations and one of my favorites in Africa. However this is the first year i have personally made a decision not to take clients to CAR. In my opinion there are other great hunting destinations that can offer as good as CAR for the same priority species. Again i wish everyone luck operating up there... I am going to miss it. But i will be back once things settle down.

Dave Rademeyer
Northern Operations Africa
Dave@northernoperationsafrica.com

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
When the shit hits the fan in Africa you do not want to be in the same room.

Exactly , well said

what can you shoot in CAR that you can't shoot in Cameroon??

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
what can you shoot in CAR that you can't shoot in Cameroon??

For one, where can you go for Bongo, LDE, GFH on the same safari? I don't believe you can shoot GFH in Cameroon but I may be mistaken.

I shot the entire 21 day contract, had multiple opportunities at most.

I will agree they place is a boiling cauldron of shit right now.

I will return, as soon as it calms down. Christophe and I both can walk, we have a date with a very special LDE.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
what can you shoot in CAR that you can't shoot in Cameroon??

Yellow backed duiker

quote:

Originally posted by Peter Andersen:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
what can you shoot in CAR that you can't shoot in Cameroon??

Yellow backed duiker

Forgot about that one. Awesome animal, exciting as hell to hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
what can you shoot in CAR that you can't shoot in Cameroon??

For one, where can you go for Bongo, LDE, GFH on the same safari? I don't believe you can shoot GFH in Cameroon but I may be mistaken.

I shot the entire 21 day contract, had multiple opportunities at most.

I will agree they place is a boiling cauldron of shit right now.

I will return, as soon as it calms down. Christophe and I both can walk, we have a date with a very special LDE.

Steve

you can also do that in Cameroon but it is in 2 widely separated areas- same safari but longer time span probably. and yes, you can shoot GFH there, although chances may be smaller. didn't know about the yellow backed duiker.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
what can you shoot in CAR that you can't shoot in Cameroon??

For one, where can you go for Bongo, LDE, GFH on the same safari? I don't believe you can shoot GFH in Cameroon but I may be mistaken.

I shot the entire 21 day contract, had multiple opportunities at most.

I will agree they place is a boiling cauldron of shit right now.

I will return, as soon as it calms down. Christophe and I both can walk, we have a date with a very special LDE.

Steve

you can also do that in Cameroon but it is in 2 widely separated areas- same safari but longer time span probably. and yes, you can shoot GFH there, although chances may be smaller. didn't know about the yellow backed duiker.

All I can tell you Jerry is don't go there. I will wait till my personal "comfort level" is reached before I return. But I will return.

i am headed to Cameroon in March but unguided. hoping for LDE and roan or forrest buff, plus smaller stuff. if all goes well, will go back the next year for bongo and a few others, again unguided with the pygmies.

jdollar, I look forward to hearing your report. I've been looking at doing that hunt for sometime now.

for sure it will be something different! PLEASE, GOD, DON'T LET ME SHOOT A COW LIKE MY FRIEND FROM MONTREAL

quote:

for sure it will be something different! PLEASE, GOD, DON'T LET ME SHOOT A COW LIKE MY FRIEND FROM MONTREAL

Why don't you take him with you?

warthogs and baboon would make better leopard bait…

Well, for the last 49 years that I am going to Africa I always been careful.. and onces you take a decision you never know if it's a good or a bad one... will see

Have a look on the first picture on my web site and you will understand why I am so addicted..
http://www.huntersguidesafaris.com/en/

All the best
Christophe

quote:

Originally posted by ChristopheMorio:
Well, for the last 49 years that I am going to Africa I always been careful.. and onces you take a decision you never know if it's a good or a bad one... will see

Have a look on the first picture on my web site and you will understand why I am so addicted..
http://www.huntersguidesafaris.com/en/

All the best
Christophe

One look at Fox Breaking news Headlines might make a trip to CAR look like a bad idea.

http://www.foxnews.com/politic...e/?intcmp=latestnews

Hagel orders US support in Central African Republic
French Forces under attack in capital