At the time of the elections, the town was controlled by Central African soldiers (FACA) and Wagner Group mercenaries.

[3] The Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), a coalition of anti-government rebel groups led by deposed president François Bozizé, began attacking major towns across the country during the last week of December to prevent citizens from voting.

[2] The Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic (FPRC) was not part of the CPC coalition.

[5] That same week, CPC fighters attacked and captured the town of Bambari, the capital of Ouaka prefecture.

[2] CPC and FPRC rebels had been spotted by locals around Bangassou for around twenty-four hours before the attacks on January 3.

[5] The attack began between 5 and 5:30 a.m. on January 3. and was allegedly led by Mahamet Saleh and Abdoulaye Hissène of the FPRC.

[5][12] About 80% of the population of Bangassou had crossed the Mbomou River to flee to Ndu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the aftermath of the attack.

[10] Despite the CPC's seizure of the city, MINUSCA stated that it was still in control of Bangassou on January 3, a claim repeated by newly appointed Central African Prime Minister Firmin Ngrébada.

[7] On January 11, a UNHCR report in Ndu stated that 15,000 civilians from Bangassou and Damara had fled to the town following the CPC attack.