A first attack by UPC rebels on the same FACA position had resulted in 8 deaths in the army's ranks and 4 on the side of the attackers on March 7 last, according to Nzacko's administration. This time it was eight soldiers and two rebels who lost their lives in this new assault, according to the same source.

Caught under fire from the assailants, the rest of the FACA had to withdraw to the neighboring city of Bakuma or into the bush. Since then, the population, fearing being caught in the crossfire, lives in fear while awaiting a counter-offensive by the army and its Russian ally.

"The population is very afraid, explains Laurent Samedi, one of the deputy mayors of Nzacko. They went into the forest because they heard rumors saying that the FACA and the Russians are going to come here for a new confrontation. So people went to hide in the forest."

The spokesperson for the FACA general staff confirmed this attack. But Colonel Augustin Ndangokpayo was not yet in a position to confirm or deny this toll on Tuesday, as an investigation was still underway to shed light on what happened four days ago, he explained.

For its part, MINUSCA says it has sent a patrol of its force to Nzacko for the past two days. But it is progressing slowly due to roads severely degraded by the rainy season.