Crime is commonly described locally with terms such as criminalité, délinquance, banditisme, braquage and enlèvement. Reported risks include homicide, kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, bag-snatching in markets and public transport, carjacking, extortion, sexual assault and domestic violence. Financial scams and internet romance scams also occur. No reliable national crime rate or coverage figure is available, and reported cases do not measure prevalence because insecurity, stigma and distance can prevent people from seeking help. Bangui is comparatively more stable than many other areas, but conditions can deteriorate quickly. Outlying parts of Bangui, including PK5, can face armed-gang activity. Outside Bangui, armed groups, banditry, hostage-taking, carjacking, burglary, illegal and official roadblocks, extortion and weak state services increase the practical risk. Police and emergency services may be difficult or impossible to reach in rural and remote areas because of distance, insecurity, staff shortages and lack of fuel. A nationwide curfew runs from 00:00 to 05:00; Canadian guidance identifies an exception for Bangui. The Police nationale, Gendarmerie nationale and Forces de sécurité intérieure handle public security. The Police judiciaire investigates crimes. MINUSCA and UNPOL can provide international support, but they do not replace local law enforcement. Community policing, local vigilance groups and early-warning committees can provide additional protection. In some areas, complaints may also go through local authorities, community agents, NGOs or Community Information Feedback (CIF) mechanisms. CIF centres in Kaga-Bandoro, Bria, Bambari and Paoua offer confidential feedback and sexual-exploitation-and-abuse reporting in local languages, but they are not general police substitutes. For emergencies, public listings give 117 for police and 2161-2200 for the gendarmerie. The number +236 2161 3072 is also listed for police, ambulance, fire and missing-child reports. Public information is inconsistent, so numbers should be verified locally before an emergency. In Bangui, victims may sometimes need to pay for police transport because of vehicle and fuel shortages. Practical precautions include arranging trusted transport in advance, travelling in groups, avoiding night travel and isolated places, keeping a low profile, securing doors and windows, carrying identification and copies of key documents, and avoiding visible valuables. Do not resist an armed robber. Avoid demonstrations and crowds, treat official and unofficial roadblocks cautiously, follow local media and do not photograph police, military or government facilities. Victims may seek medical, psychosocial, legal and reintegration support through health facilities, the Ministry of Promotion for Women and Children, UNICEF, UNFPA and NGOs. RECOPE community protection networks and the UNICEF partner Esperance can support referrals to hospitals and psychosocial follow-up. Only 26% of survivors of sexual violence received timely medical care within 72 hours in the cited research, while nationwide costs and deadlines are not consistently documented. Stigma, insecurity and distance can block access. The Comité National de l’Aide Légale is being operationalised; in 2024, more than 21,000 people, mostly women and girls, received protection or legal aid, while 15 victims received legal aid in the cited case data. The Special Criminal Court can award case-specific financial reparations, but there is no general guarantee of compensation. For online crime, the Ministry of Digital Economy, Posts and Telecommunications is officially responsible for cybersecurity, cybercrime and data protection. The Central African Internet and Security Cell, linked to the Presidency, lists the toll-free hotline 76 50 00 36. The operational status of specialised cybercrime structures and a national computer emergency response team remains unclear, so online reporting pathways should be treated as fragmented. Do not send money to online contacts or alleged officials, and preserve messages, payment records, account details and other evidence. Children face particular risks from armed-group recruitment and use, sexual exploitation and violence, family separation, child labour and attacks on school routes. The United Nations verified 733 grave violations affecting 479 children in 2025, including recruitment or use involving 331 children; 406 formerly associated children received reintegration support. Under a 2024 protocol, released children should be transferred to the nearest civilian child-protection service within 24 hours. The National Council for Child Protection has operated since 2024, but no independent nationwide youth-crime hotline is documented.
Crime in Central African Republic
Crime in the Central African Republic includes violent crime, kidnapping, armed robbery, theft, sexual and domestic violence, financial scams and online fraud. Risks are generally higher outside Bangui and at night, while armed groups, banditry, illegal roadblocks and limited public services create additional dangers in remote areas. Police, gendarmerie, community networks, international organisations and specialised support services provide assistance, but access remains fragmented.
Tip
Treat personal security in the Central African Republic as a location- and time-dependent planning issue, especially outside Bangui and after dark. Arrange transport, communication and emergency contacts before travelling, and use formal services, community networks or specialised organisations according to the situation. Keep a low profile, avoid unnecessary exposure at checkpoints and crowds, and preserve evidence after any incident.