CAR (Central African Republic)

Main article: Africa

Colonial dependence on France

For 2023, the CAR is in colonial dependence on France, which is trying to maintain control over all significant processes in the economy. For more on specific instruments of influence, see French Foreign Policy.

Population

Main article: Population of Africa

Confrontation between sleepy Christian animists and enterprising Muslims

For 2020, the CAR is still a cross-border, desert and lawless zone, dissected by gens en armes, shepherds, illegal prospectors and smugglers. A zone of continuous flight from a dysfunctional state, a realm of informal economy, armed shepherds, private militias and mercenaries of all colors and skin tones. As noted by the telegram channel Zangaro Today, in a country where passports are easily sold, bought and lost, "their" and "strangers" are determined exclusively by language, values ​ ​ and views on the world.

On the one hand, there are mobile, cosmopolitan and enterprising Muslims who prefer to speak Arabic dialects and associate their ambitions, careers and spiritual searches with Sudan and Chad. On the other hand, there is an animist and only superficially Christianized rural world, suspicious of commerce, innovations, risks and wealth, existing in the universe of superstition, spirits and witchcraft. In this world, the crown of a career is considered exclusively public service - a lazy, leisurely, timeless existence, very reminiscent of the usual rural routine. In this environment, Muslim citizens of the CAR are seen as an ominous "fifth column" of "strangers," "half-readers," troublemakers. In turn, they respond to them with an endless series of uprisings stretching back to 2003.

It is striking that sixty years ago this conflict was already superbly described by writer Macombo Bambote in "Princess Mandapu," built on the enmity of the swaggering sub-prefecture of the town of Ouanji and the Arabized merchant. Sixty years passed, but the old antagonisms remained in force.

The possibility of free movement around the country and abroad is one of the signs of belonging to the "big people" and the "political class" as a whole. In the cosmology of Central Africans, who inhabited the world with otherworldly spirits and forces, this is a very important ability, because it is there, outside the visible world, that communication with the supernatural takes place. These views are not difficult to understand - given the fact that ordinary people here have been alienated from political life for decades. Not being born in the vicinity of Bangui, not owning a sango or French and - worst of all - being a Muslim until recently meant subjecting yourself to continuous and devastating checks at checkpoints and roads. Many second-class citizens even willingly changed such "unsuccessful" names as Abdoulaye in order to move around the country at least a little more freely, because for many of them - and especially Muslims active in retail and commerce, this was a matter of survival.

The protracted internal civil conflict between Muslim trade circles - "second-class citizens" - and the raw material Christian elite of the capital's south for resources and state infrastructure continues. A conflict complicated by multifaceted foreign interference, where the main competitors - France and Russia - are just the tip of the iceberg, hiding the regional ambitions of Chad, both Congo, Cameroon and Rwanda.

If the capital has always found allies in France, which from time to time displaced figures objectionable to it, then Muslim "citizens" gravitated towards Sudan and especially Chad.

Migration

2021: Net outflow over 4 years

Marriages

Allowed to have more than one spouse

Early marriages

According to a UNICEF study, about 115 million boys under 15 are married. Among 82 countries, the situation in the Central African Republic is worst at 28%, followed by Nicaragua at 19% and Madagascar at 13%.

Children who are married drop out of school, are more vulnerable and have mental health problems. The boys are forced to take on the responsibilities of adults for which they are not ready, including previously fatherhood.

According to UNICEF, in 2019 there are 765 million girls and boys worldwide who are married out of 2.2 billion children in total.

Overweight

Mortality

Traffic safety

Economy

Minerals

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the poorest countries in the world, but the state is rich in diamonds, gold and uranium. For decades, CAR has been beset by various internal conflicts.

As of August 2022, militants continue to control individual gold and diamond deposits, flows of drug and arms smuggling (including through cattle breeders, Yilan whose representatives are members of the 3R and UPC groups), and also receive material support France. In the Central African Children news, it is stable once every 1-2 months, they report on the seizure of French smuggling through a mission UN to the CAR MINUSKA or the detention of "couriers" red-handed.

Uranium

The CAR houses the Bakuma uranium mine, which the French Areva (renamed Orano) successfully developed and developed until 2013.

At the end of 2020, a new round of civil war broke out in the Central African Republic: the new Coalition of Patriots for Change group raided the capital, Bangui. If it were not for Russian instructors, then both the capital and the country would be lost. If the French-controlled Coalition of Patriots for Change were to win, the French giant would once again gain access to a local mine.

For August 2022, UPC fighters do not abandon attempts to take control of the country's largest uranium deposit in Bakum, the last attack was June 23, 2022.

GDP $454 per person

Financial system

Central Bank

Main article: Central Bank of the Central African Republic

Franck CFA

Main article: West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)

As of April 2022, the CAR country uses the CFA franc or African franc as the currency, the common name of the two monetary units of 14 African countries included in the franc currency zone: Senegal, Mali, Kot-d, Burkina Faso, Niger, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau.

Sango Coin - national cryptocurrency

Main article: Sango Coin (cryptocurrency)

Bitcoin as a means of payment and a reserve asset

At the end of April 2022, the Central African Republic approved bitcoin as legal tender. The state became the first country in Africa to recognize bitcoin as a legitimate payment currency to help the country's economic recovery.

The country's lawmakers unanimously voted to accept bitcoin as legal tender, the CAR president said in a statement.

In July 2022, the CAR approved the use of bitcoin as a reserve asset.

{{quote 'Businessmen will no longer have to walk around with suitcases of CFA francs that will need to be converted into dollars or any other currency to shop abroad. In a number of African countries, there are increasingly calls for the CFA currency to be abandoned by those who consider it a remnant of the colonial era, allowing France to continue to exercise economic control, said Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera. }} CAR officials said that with the adoption of cryptocurrencies, the state is adopting an avant-garde path of development and economic growth that is popular with investors around the world. In a statement by the President of the Central African Republic, it is said that as of April 2022, cryptocurrencies have become full-fledged participants in the portfolios of the world's largest financial players.

As part of the initiative, country officials hope to completely transform the digital infrastructure of the CAR, introducing blockchain as much as possible in all spheres of the country's life. Investments in cryptocurrencies will be a boon for millions of people, the authors of the bill say.^[1]

Alcohol market

Minimum age to purchase alcoholic beverages

Agriculture

2019: Low use of pesticides in agriculture

Consumption

Meat

2023: Beef is the most consumed type of meat

Cereals

2019: Low rice consumption: 6.2 kg per person per year

Vegetables

2018: Vegetable consumption - 19 kg per capita

Power

2023: Solar power plant launched in Sakai

At the end of March 2023, a new solar power plant built by Chinese companies in Sakai was put into operation in the CAR.

The opening was attended by President Fosten-Arkange Tuadera and Chinese Ambassador Li Qinfeng. In addition to the solar power plant in Sakai, construction of other energy facilities is underway in another 28 settlements across the country.

2020: Low per capita energy consumption

and

2019: Electrification rate just 3%

CAR IT Market

2022: No start-up industry

Education

Percentage of people who can read

Health care

2021: Maternity leave

in

2020

Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave less than a month

Part of the population defecates on the street

Crime

Prisons

2019: The minimum age for children to be jailed is 14

2018: Number of prisoners per 100 thousand citizens

History

2024

President Tuader's proposal to deploy a Russian military base in the east of the country, which lacks all infrastructure and electricity

The Russian military base could be deployed in the east of the CAR, said President Fosten-Arkange Tuadera in April 2024.

"This could help ensure border security, help in covering up our forces, ensure security in these areas," he said in an interview with RTVI.

"... of course, we want President Putin to visit the Central African Republic one day. By the way, we even sent invitations for him and for Minister Lavrov, "he added.

This statement can hardly be considered anything other than a mockery of the idea of ​ ​ creating a Russian base, wrote Rybar.

The first and main reason is that there is completely no logistics infrastructure and electricity in the east. Only jungle and malaria.

This means that the creation of any object suitable for the tasks of the RF Armed Forces (even a small size) will require huge additional investments.

Not to mention the fact that the base itself in the CAR without additional logistics points in the same Sudan, where you can refuel the IL-76, is devoid of much meaning.

Secondly, the infrastructure that already exists in the Berengo camp, or in the airport in Bangui, which is free after the French left, is quite enough to deploy a decent contingent and even conduct large operations using small outposts in all areas of the country - the successes of PMC Wagner during the war with gangs in 2020-2021 confirmation of this.

Thirdly, two days before the announcement of the Russian base, Tuader met for the second time in the past six months (which is already extremely significant, compared to previous years) with French President Macron, where they discussed the establishment of bilateral relations.

This event once again confirms the desire of the Central African authorities to play multi-vector.

In an interview, Tuadera noted that "the CAR is experiencing many security problems and therefore periodically considers questions about the deployment of foreign military bases." It passes between the lines: if the Russians stop investing enough money, then the bases may turn out to be American.

The United States is trying to gain a foothold in the CAR. France vs.

In February 2024, French intelligence detained in Gabon an adviser to the President of the Central African Republic, Tuader Borel Yaung Yako, who promoted the interests of the American PMC Bancroft affiliated with the CIA.

At the end of 2023, it became known that the management of Bancroft decided to take advantage of the partially formed vacuum after death Evgenia Prigozhina and sent its advisers to informal negotiations with the CAR government. There were rumors that mercenaries were even picking up a basing place. However, after a conflict between the leadership of Bancroft and the government France and a media leak of news about negotiations between mercenaries and the authorities in Bangui, Bancroft representatives left the country. As of February 2024, the CIA is directly engaged in negotiations on American influence.

It became known that Borel received a "significant amount" for promoting the interests of Bancroft, which was the reason for his arrest. Obviously, this is another action of the French against the attempts of the Americans to settle in their former colony, wrote "Rybar."

Against this background, a rally was held in Bangui against the presence of US mercenaries in the country. About 1,000 residents of the capital protested outside the US Embassy in the CAR to condemn the "illegal presence" of Bancroft PMCs in the country. Protesters demanded the withdrawal of American mercenaries from the CAR and the cessation of informal negotiations with the government.

2023

Abolition of restrictions on the number of terms and an increase in the term of office of the president of the country from 5 to 7 years

In August 2023, the leader of the Central African Republic, Tuadera, received the right to a third term. In a constitutional referendum on July 29, the CAR voted to abolish term limits.

The new constitution will also increase the presidential term from five to seven years, introduce the position of vice president, those with dual citizenship will be prohibited from running for president, and the current composition of the Senate will be dissolved.

Although the exact results of the vote will be known no later than August 27, according to the preliminary counting of votes on August 7, more than 95% of voters supported the new constitution.

Militants deceive Russians and Chinese by offering fake disarmament

In the Central African Republic, clashes between local gangs and the CAR army have continued for several years with the support of the Wagner PMC units.

In March 2023, turning to the Russian side, some group leaders expressed a desire to disarm in exchange for increased wages and the transfer of control over gold mines.

Given that the situation with the training of the local army and the final solution of security issues in remote regions is increasingly deadlocked, Russian representatives decided to seriously consider this proposal.

It is not the first time that measures to disarm and integrate militants into society have been taking place, and each time it ended deplorably, the Rybar channel wrote.

Attempts to force militants of various armed groups to disarm and integrate into the local army and civilian institutions have been made over the past 10 years. Each time this process was disrupted for many reasons, the key of which were:

• the reluctance of political elites to let their enemies closer than yesterday's - the distribution of state posts to militants was often only a formality without real powers. This made the leaders of groups deprived of access to existing corruption schemes very angry.

This also includes the problem of harmonizing army ranks - militants without primary school education often appointed themselves generals and demanded that these ranks be retained by them in the personnel army.

• the reluctance of militants to change the usual way of life, an integral part of which is the robbery of the population, as well as the smuggling of gold and diamonds.

This was accompanied by the desire of the militants to earn extra money on humanitarian actions and share the funding that international organizations willingly allocated for peace negotiations. In this sense, the interests of the groups closely overlapped with the interests of local authorities.

Nobody really watched the effectiveness of the execution of the contracts either: the militants continued to earn money on smuggling, quietly rob the local population and disarmed in batches of 50 people every three months.

At the same time, when resources became sufficient and the prospect of a repetition of an armed coup and the ruin of cities, approved and sponsored by external forces, in particular France, appeared, it quickly became clear that while the group was demonstrating the disarmament of several dozen fighters under cameras, hundreds were armed behind the scenes.

For example, it happened with the projects of the former leader of the Anti-Balaka group Maxim Mokom, who begged for money from Yevgeny Prigozhin for the construction of wells, churches, schools, and so on.

Needless to say, he did not fulfill anything promised by Mok, and as soon as the next conflict began, he was among the first to join ex-President Francois Bozize, who is still on the run.

True, Mokom himself was not lucky - the authorities of Chad, where he was hiding with Bozize, handed him over to the Hague Tribunal in March 2022.

During the short military campaign of the next coalition of militants in late 2020 - early 2021, they were defeated, and the war was transformed into an anti-terrorist operation, which continues to this day.

Local army units, with the support of PMC Wagner, track the remnants of militants through the forests, defend roads and villages from raids.

After heavy losses, attempts began by some gang leaders to negotiate through corrupt allies in power about another truce.

However, the leadership of the Wagner PMC, which was then performing the main work to destroy armed groups, refused such negotiations for obvious reasons.

Similar proposals are periodically received by Chinese businessmen who are offered mines and immunity in exchange for contributions.

In March 2023, a group of Chinese citizens, who had previously trusted the militants, was attacked while working at a mine 25 km from the city of Bambari. As a result, nine Chinese were killed and two more were injured.

Deadlock in the fight against militants due to the difficult economic situation in the country

The situation in the country by the beginning of 2023 rested on an unsolvable problem: the anti-terrorist operation requires more and more human resources to occupy outposts on distant borders and ensure the security of state institutions.

The forces of the PMC "Wagner," performing the role of a local fire brigade in the conditions of partisan war, are not enough.

Given the difficult socio-economic situation in the country and the model of easy earnings offered by gangs, armed groups will not have a shortage of people.

In part, Russian instructors who train special forces of the local army are trying to solve the problem. But these efforts are not enough either, because as soon as the fighters finish the course and get back to the locations of a completely incompetent regular army, after two or three months they forget how to disassemble the machine gun.

The reform of the army and the mass appeal are skeptical due to the great influence of various ethno-tribal groups - there is always a risk of arming the masses of people who will then refuse to defend the interests of the state and go into robbery.

Refusal to condemn Russia in the conflict in Ukraine

2022

Payment for the services of PMC Wagner with income from gold mines

According [1] to Politico, the profit of Wagnerites from mining in the CAR may grow to almost $1 billion a year. The main emphasis is on the development of Ndassima gold mines in the center of the country.

Since the beginning of development, small mines have become a huge complex covering eight production zones.

At the end of 2022, PMC Wagner is the main military force ensuring stability in the CAR. Russian specialists are engaged not only in the training of local armed forces, but also advise the Central African authorities on economic and public administration issues. Therefore, the development of mining projects in the resource-rich CAR is seen as a fee for the provision of a wide range of services.

Political strategists and economists at the Wagner PMC lobbied for the lifting of the Kimberley Process sanctions, which prevent the CAR from legally selling its diamonds on the international market, explored new mineral deposits, sought opportunities for investment and development, and also advised the local government on the development of domestic industry, up to the construction of cotton processing plants and the production of local beer on Russian wheat.

Break-up of parts of rebel groups and UPC attacks

In December 2022, the breakup of rebel movements continues in the CAR, losing external funding and being pushed out of controlled territories by the national army.

In early December, the leaders of the RPRC and MLCJ groups, and, concurrently, the parliamentarians of the National Assembly announced the dissolution of their formations and accession to the peace process under the auspices of the government.

Irreconcilable militant leaders refusing to disarm are either fleeing the country or hiding in forests on the border with Chad and Cameroon.

One RPRC leader, Zakaria Daman, did not have time to escape and was liquidated by the Wagner PMC back in February 2022 along with 20 of his militants.

The greatest danger is the UPC group under the command of Ali Darass.

On December 11, UPC militants attacked the positions of the national armed forces in the villages of Buayo and Lioto in Huaca Prefecture. A peaceful resident died. The militants retreated to the approach of reinforcements from Bambari and Grimari.

The next day, a collision occurred in the village of Bokolobo in the south of the country. Previously, Bokolobo was a stronghold of the Darass group. The attack was successfully repulsed, 2 militants were eliminated, 1 CAR soldier was wounded. A dead peaceful resident is reported.

Government forces, with the support of the Wagnerites, cleared the Kocho mine 85 km from Bria. The battle lasted for several hours. As a result, about 40 militants were eliminated, several were taken prisoner, the rest fled.

Undermining the head of the Russian House in the CAR Dmitry Syty

The head of the Russian House in Central African Bangui, Dmitry Syty, received a parcel with explosives on December 16, 2022, which detonated in his hands. In serious condition, he was sent to a hospital where Russian doctors work. After his life was out of danger, he was evacuated to Russia for further treatment.

Dmitry Syty is considered one of the key conductors of the interests of the owner of the Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin and one of the main political advisers to the current president of the Central African Republic. For the same reason, in 2020 he was added to the US sanctions list.

About a year ago, Dmitry Syty was appointed head of the Russian House in Bangui. The formal list of duties of the Russian House includes educational events, lessons in the Russian language and acquaintance of local people with traditional Russian culture.

During the day, the last French servicemen left the country and this action could well be a "farewell gift," suggested the Rybar channel.

Another incident, which Western media consider in the context of the terrorist attack against Dmitry Syty, was the fire at the EU headquarters in Bangui on December 19. The alleged cause of the fire was a wiring malfunction - a fairly common problem in the CAR. The entire complex of buildings was completely destroyed.

The French army finally left the CAR

On the afternoon of December 15, 2022, a group of 47 servicemen of the French Armed Forces left the Bangui M'Poco logistics center in the Central African Republic and flew by cargo plane in the direction of Gabon. Now there is not a single French soldier left in the country.

The process of gradually reducing the military presence of the Fifth Republic in the country began almost a year and a half ago, when in April 2021, the agreement on military cooperation with the CAR was suspended in Paris.

The formal reason for the withdrawal of the contingent was the deployment of the Russian PMC Wagner in the country and the growth of anti-French sentiments in society.

In fact, after the failure of the coup attempt in January 2021, the defeat of the groups supported from Paris and the transition of most of the country to government control, the military presence became meaningless.

France's complete withdrawal from the CAR is out of the question: the Fifth Republic has only reformatted its presence and still has financial and economic leverage over the country.

In addition to the Wagner PMC units, Rwanda may well claim the empty base with its significant peacekeeping contingent in the country.

Before leaving, the French tried to lobby for the transfer of the base under the control of the UN mission in the CAR (MINUSCA). However, Bangui has not yet publicly announced its decision.

Bangui M'Poko can also house units of the national army, which are trained and coordinated under the guidance of specialists of the Wagner PMC. In this case, the staff of the Russian company will also receive full access to the facility.

President Tuader resigns Constitutional Court President Daniel Darlan

The main political parties of the CAR during the general assembly on November 7, 2022 supported the holding of a referendum on amendments to the Constitution, thanks to which the incumbent President Tuadera will be able to be re-elected for a third term.

However, the debate around the draft Basic Law does not subside.

Earlier, the Constitutional Court rejected the presidential decree on the start of the work of the Committee on the development of a new Constitution. After an unsuccessful appeal of the court decision on October 25, Tuadera ordered the resignation of the chairman of the Constitutional Court, Daniel Darlan.

Russian "PMC Wagner" is increasing the number of instructors

On October 22, 2022, despite the stable situation in most of the country, small gangs continue to conduct partisan activities: they raid with the aim of robberies, ambush government forces, attack mineral deposits, set up posts on the roads, extorting money from roadways.

To combat armed groups, the CAR authorities, with the assistance of Russia, are increasing the number of instructors and the pace of training of military personnel. Over the past month and a half, the number of Russian instructors from among the Wagner PMCs increased by 210 people, their total number reached 1345.

Preparation gradually begins to bear fruit. On September 13, the CAR armed forces successfully repelled an attempted attack by UPC militants on the city of Bria, the regional center of the Upper Kotto prefecture. Rebels, including many foreign mercenaries from Chad and Sudan, terrorize the local population by raiding surrounding villages and mines.

The population of Muan Sido, due to the close location of this settlement to the border with Chad, was regularly attacked by militants. In order to improve the level of security, units of the CAR and PMC Wagner army were sent there.

In the neighboring border town of Markunda, on October 9, CAR troops clashed with bandits from the MPC. The shootout, which lasted 4 hours, ended with militants fleeing after the arrival of a helicopter with Wagner PMC fighters from the neighboring city of Bossangoa.

Road mining tactics are also widely used by militants. In the north-west of the country in the Uam Pende prefecture, where the 3R group is most active, on October 3, a car of the Bangladeshi Blue Helmets of the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) was blown up. Three peacekeepers were killed, one seriously wounded needed the help of Russian doctors who were nearby.

Also, 3R militants on the morning of October 19 attacked a military base in the city of Man in the north-west of the country, but as a result of a two-hour battle, the local garrison managed to surround the bandits and force them to retreat to Cameroon.

In France, in mid-October 2022, they officially announced the closure of the last logistics base at Bangui Airport. 130 French soldiers will leave the central African territory before the end of this year. The decision was made in connection with the departure of the French contingent from Mali and the increased influence of Russia in the CAR.

Against the background of news about the departure of the French, other foreign partners of the CAR are becoming more active. In particular, instructors from the PRC took up the training of 68 servicemen of the Special Group of Republican Protection (GSPR), the body responsible for the safety of the first persons and state institutions of the CAR.

The Central African Republic remains in a state of fuel crisis. More than half of the stations of the only fuel importer today - the French company Total - are closed, and the rest are working intermittently due to fuel shortages. In the past two years, France's TNK has sold its assets in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Niger. Rumors are spreading that the Central African Republic will also be affected by this trend.

Constitutional Court opposes constitutional amendments for new Tuader term

In the CAR, it is planned to amend the Constitution, which will allow the current president of Tuader to be re-elected for the next term.

According to the presidential decree, on September 14, 2022, the Committee for the Development of a New Constitution of the Country began its work, the main task of which is to adapt the new text to the current realities. Despite the earlier support for the revision of the Basic Law, the Constitutional Court opposed this initiative. The court's decision is being appealed.

Request to Russia to increase the number of instructors by 3 thousand and the outcome of the French

The FACA National Army for August 2022 is still extremely small to maintain stability throughout the CAR. Despite the work of Russian instructors, there is still more than one year of successful training and graduation to ensure that the army's strength meets the security needs of the five million country.

This problem is well recognized in Bangui, because they remember perfectly well how the five thousandth army two years ago tried to keep the militants many times superior in number. Therefore, external assistance (Russia and Rwanda) is still the main guarantee of stability.

Thanks to the methodical work of the PMC Wagner detachments and the national army, which are crowding militants to the country's borders, the number of clashes with armed groups has decreased compared to last months. However, clusters of bandits on the outskirts still unnerve the local population.

Russian units, together with the FACA national army, successfully use helicopter aircraft, landing behind enemy lines. This tactic has shown its effectiveness even during the acute phase of hostilities in the winter of 2020-2021. However, militants are much better able to take advantage of local landscapes, take refuge in the jungle and regroup, which makes it difficult to find and destroy them.

The greatest danger is the partisan tactics of gangs that seek to control roads and rob passing vehicles.

There is activity of Anti-Balaka militants on the Buka-Batangafo road, 3R militants on the Bozum-Bosambel road, as well as UPC militants in the city of Ouadda Jalle. Thus, the security forces concentrate on the protection of the main trade routes and humanitarian convoys, as well as on the formation of new military bases in strategic cities, for which there are not enough people.

On August 4, 2022, it became known that the CAR requested another 3,000 Russian instructors from Russia. Thus, their number will gradually increase almost 4 times - up to 4135 people.

Also in the CAR continue to create their own aircraft. The full-fledged Air Force is still far away, but nevertheless, the Republic has already acquired the first training aircraft. Aero L-39 "Albatross" is already on the runway of the military airfield M'poko in Bangui. Several more aircraft of this type are expected to arrive.

At the end of August 2022, France is going to announce the closure of its last logistics base at Bangui Airport.

According to the authoritative publication Africa Intelligence, the withdrawal of the last 130 French troops is scheduled for the end of 2022. The decision was made in connection with the departure of the French contingent from Mali and the increased influence of Russia in the CAR.

Plan to amend the Constitution for Thuader's third term

The issue of security in the CAR has again become relevant, as the Republic is preparing for a big political event - a referendum on the Constitution.

The proposal for amendments, made in May in the National Assembly, implies the abolition of the requirement for "two presidential terms in a row" so that Tuadera could be re-elected for the third time.

Needless to say, this initiative provoked a wave of indignation among fugitive oppositionists and leaders of gangs, who immediately announced the creation of resistance movements. Some have already published manifestos signed by central African politicians in France.

In response, pro-government organizations are organizing numerous rallies in support of the changes and this has had an effect. On July 20, the government responded positively to the amendments and recommended that parliament consider this issue as soon as possible.

Against the background of public discussion, for 3 months now there has been an intensification of groups, mainly in territories controlled by UPC and on the border with Cameroon, where 3R operate.

At the end of June 2022, Bozize broke a long silence and announced that the CAR needed a transition period without President Tuader. In general, the appeal echoes past theses about the need to overthrow the government, without which democracy is unattainable.

Fuel crisis

Since the beginning of spring 2022, the fuel crisis has continued, which is aggravated artificially, mainly by the French company Total, which redirects fuel supplies from Congo to Uganda bypassing the CAR.

Prices at gas stations rose 2-3 times. Fuel for aircraft is also in short supply, UN missions are forced to purchase it directly from neighboring countries. A similar scheme with a "shortage" of fuel for aircraft was already used in the spring and summer of 2021, when government forces won victories over militants, and the then Prime Minister of the CAR, Firmen Ngrebada, was preparing to fly to Russia. PIEF

UPC Ali Darass Group Continues Resistance in Southeast

As of August 2022, many leaders of the once powerful Anti-Balaka groups (Francois Bozizé and Maxime Mokom), MPC (Mahamat Al-Qatim), 3R (Sembe Bobbo), are on the run in Chad.

The main opposition party of the country, Kwa-na-Kwa, whose leader is Bozize, and whose support was one of the largest ethnic groups of Gbaya, is marginalized and has lost the support of the elites. The remaining deputies of the National Assembly - representatives of KNK - are forced to demonstrate loyalty to the ruling party of President Tuader.

The army continues to regain control in remote areas of the country, crowding the remnants of gangs, which have switched to the usual tactics of partisan warfare.

The control of the territories that we previously observed on the maps of the CAR has become even more conditional. If earlier the militants openly set up checkpoints on the main roads, now their number has significantly decreased, but attacks on FACA patrols and Wagner PMC fighters in the jungle and areas bordering Chad and Cameroon have become more frequent.

Against this background, the UPC Ali Darass group stands out. He is the only major player who is in the CAR, retains control of militants and several localities in the southeast, and trembles nerves with authorities in Bangui.

Request for an increase in the number of Russian instructors

The Central African Republic (CAR) is interested in increasing the number of Russian instructors on its territory.

"What

Russian instructors have done for our country in a year is something the Western military, Americans or French, have not been able to do in a decade. So I am very glad, and we would like their number to increase, "- said in April 2022 the Ambassador of the CAR in Moscow Leon Dodonu

.

He also noted that the CAR is counting on the opening of a Russian military base.

2021: Ex-President Bozizé attacks capital Bangui with French support, but PMC Wagner defends government

In January 2021, former President Francois Bozizé, with the support of France, Chadian mercenaries and a number of groups that decided that another raid on the capital would bring them much more commercial benefit and influence in the new captured territories than the observance of the truce and disarmament, gathered the "Coalition of Patriots for Change" and moved to Bangui.

The current president, Fosten-Arkange Tuadera, was re-elected according to the election results, and on January 13, 2021, the militants attempted to attack the capital, but were thrown back, and then for several months they were destroyed by fighters of the Wagner PMC and the remaining combat-ready units of the national army (FACA).

2020

Ex-President Francois Bozize removed from elections

In 2020, former President Francois Bozizé was suspended for numerous crimes during the last civil war from participating in the elections that took place in December 2020.

Overview of key military-political groups

February 5, 2020 marks the year since the signing of the Khartoum Settlement Agreements in the CAR. On this occasion, the leaders of key military-political groups gathered at the celebrations in the capital of Bangui to President Fosten-Arkanju Tuader:

• Mahamat al-Khatim ("Patriotic Movement of the CAR"),
• Ali Darassa ("Union for Peace in the CAR") and
• Abbas Sidiki (3R).

The anniversary was defiantly ignored by two heavyweights of the tsarist military-political establishment - Abdoulaye Hissen, chairman of the so-called "National Defense and Security Council," and Noureddine Adam, head of the most influential and organized rebel force - the "Popular Front for the Revival of the CAR."

And although the number of killings has almost halved, more than 1.3 thousand militants from eight groups have laid down their arms, and 1.2 thousand soldiers have returned to different bases and strongholds, weapons and combatants from Chad and Sudan continue to arrive in the country, and a sluggish military-political conflict stretches in the northeast.

Local battles continue in the Muslim prefecture of Wakaga, especially for the city of Birao - the most important and densely populated city in the northeast, as well as for the city of Bria in the prefecture of Upper Kotto. As noted by the Zangaro Today telergam channel, the main troublemakers are the PFLCA and the Central African Liberators Movement for Justice (DTSOS). During the winter months, the NFCAR repeatedly stormed Birao, held by the DTSC with the support of the Gula people's militias, as well as Chadian mercenaries and Sudanese Janjavids.

New groups appeared, in particular, the "Patriotic Breakthrough for the Rise of the CAR," created by Abakar Sabone, ex-adviser to ex-President Michel Jotodia. Earlier, this veteran of tsarist armed politics has already become famous for the proposal to divide the CAR into a Christian south and a Muslim north, but now he plans to seize power before the elections.

The fighting of the militants of the Christian "anti-balaka" with the "Patriotic Movement for the CAR" continues (the last time - in the village. Laji at the end of January 2020).

Finally, Francois Bozize, who was overthrown back in 2013, returned to the country, who, according to rumors, wants to seize power with the help of anti-balaka militias and retired military men.

2019

7 killed in 20-year record floods

In November 2019, the Red Cross reported that seven people died and 25 were injured in the worst floods in the past two decades.

Authorities are evacuating residents to temporary shelters. About 1,300 people take refuge at the Omnisport Stadium in Bangui.

Stalking 13-year-old 'witch'

In July 2019, a 13-year-old girl from the CAR suspected of witchcraft was almost torn apart by an angry crowd.

The child was accused of using black magic by Eloi Ndakala's father. For several days he felt very ill and called a local doctor, who explained to the patient that the source of the problem was his 13-year-old daughter Clarissa. For several days she allegedly cast some spells.

The doctor advised the man to "bring witchcraft out of the girl with the help of laxative herbs." In a strange way, "three small toads" came out of the girl.

The rumor of a small witch and toads passed through the village, and the people rebelled, the father could not protect the child, fearing to be also accused of witchcraft.

The girl was hospitalized in the city of Bambari thanks to UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders workers. However, Clarissa was locked up at the police station after treatment. The city court, prosecutor, prefect and police are discussing the fate of the girl. Her father no longer wants to see her at home.

Flag of Russia on campaign posters

CAR children die from hunger and disease

In the first 5 months of 2019, nearly 400 children of Lower Kotto Prefecture under the age of 5 died of malnutrition.

The situation in the city of Mingala is very unstable. Despite the fact that there are 9 hospitals, there are no drugs in them. There were 580 cases of malaria among minors, 277 children died.

Lower Kotto Prefecture is under the control of the Union for Peace in the CAR group. Often, rebels pose a threat to NGOs that try to help regions remote from the capital.

Russians join UN peacekeeping mission in CAR

In June 2019, it became known that thirty Russian servicemen would soon join the UN peacekeeping mission in the CAR "MINUSCA."

The Blue Helmets, as the mission soldier is known, have been in the country since April 2014. The number of contingent in the country is about 15 thousand people. Among them are representatives of Senegal, Cameroon, Rwanda, as well as Cambodia, Peru, Portugal and others.

On the map of June 2019, you can see where the mission units are located.

2018

CAR in the leaders in the number of murders of journalists

The death of the Russian film crew before filming for PMC Wagner

In July 2018, journalist Orkhan Dzhemal, cameraman Kirill Radchenko and director Alexander Rastorguev went to the CAR to shoot a film about the activities of the Wagner PMC. On their way to the filming location, their car was attacked by unknown armed men. Journalists died, money, equipment and documents disappeared from the scene of the murder of Russians.

2014: UN Mission - MINUSCA

UN peacekeepers appeared in the CAR in April 2014 at the height of the civil war between the Christian Anti-Balaka movement and the Muslim Seleka.

Despite an impressive budget of $1.1 billion per year and a military contingent, the peacekeepers could not achieve any stabilization in the region. Only with the assistance of Russia in 2018, within the framework of the Khartoum agreements, did the militants agree to conclude a truce and begin the disarmament process.

The war flared up again at the end of 2020, when former President Francois Bozize decided to return power. MINUSCA could not prevent the militants from uniting and attacking Bangui on January 13, 2021. And after that, it was removed from the anti-terrorist operation of the national army and did not take part in the protection of civilians.

As a result, the war ended without the UN. Detachments PMC Wagner and the local army in 2022 clean up the remnants of the militants.

1979: French military overthrows Emperor Bokassa

In 1979, after opposition demonstrations that were brutally suppressed and caused an international outcry, France could no longer support the Bokass regime. The demonstration of schoolchildren protesting against the expensive uniforms imposed by the government led to the death of more than 100 children, rumors about the leader's cannibalism and the country's new rapprochement with Libya, which was unacceptable for France, became the reasons for the coup with the participation of French paratroopers.

On the night of September 20-21, 1979, the emperor of the Central African Empire, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, was overthrown by the French military.

Bokassa spent his exile in France in a castle near Paris. In the CAR, he was sentenced in absentia to death and confiscation of all property on charges of 13 crimes, including cannibalism, theft of public funds, illegal use of state property for personal purposes, rape.

The madman, however, decided to return to his homeland, looking for the support of the people. But there he was waiting for a court, a prison, and in 1993 a general amnesty. Three years later, he died of a heart attack.

1976: Bokassa declares himself emperor of CAR

In 1976, Bokassa declared himself emperor of the CAR and staged a magnificent coronation, the cost of which amounted to 1/5 of the country's annual exports. For her, one hundred cars of prestigious brands and a gold throne weighing two tons were purchased.

1973: Bokassa visits USSR

Jean-Bedel Bocassa, President of the Central African Republic. A great friend of the USSR and, he visited and France To Moscow even in, Artek where he was accepted as a pioneer.

They say that he fell in love with Russian cuisine so much that he discharged a Soviet cook to his Africa, but he quickly fled after he discovered human meat in the kitchen.

1966: Bokassa, former French foreign legionnaire, overthrows first CAR president David Daco

On January 1, 1966, Jean-Bedel Bocassa, a former French foreign legionnaire, launched a coup against David Daco, the first president of the Central African Republic.

1960: Gaining independence from France

In 1960, the CAR gained independence from France.

1914

Cookery

Caterpillars

At the end of July, the caterpillar season begins in the Central African Republic. The capital's markets are infested with insects.

Such food is extremely popular among residents of the CAR. It is quite cheap and at the same time an important source of income for local traders. Many of them give up their usual goods in order to start selling caterpillars in season. Insects displace even meat and fish from the shelves.

Caterpillars are a very nutritious food, they are recommended for babies and pregnant women due to the large amount of iron, protein and beneficial elements.

Culture

Customs

Ritual "sit on the fire" in the Central African Republic in 2019

Sport

2022: The most popular sport is football

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