Central African Republic Civil War

Not to be confused with Central African Republic Bush War.

Central African Republic Civil War
Current military situation in Central African Republic:
Current military situation in Central African Republic (For a detailed map of the current military situation, see here)
Date10 December 2012 – present
(11 years, 11 months, 1 week and 5 days)
Location
Central African Republic
(with possible spillover into East Region, Cameroon)[11]
Result

Ongoing

  • Séléka rebel coalition takes power from François Bozizé.[12]
  • Michel Djotodia, the leader of Séléka, becomes president
  • President Michel Djotodia abolishes Séléka
  • Low-level fighting between Ex-Séléka factions and Anti-balaka militias.[13]
  • President Michel Djotodia resigns amid heavy international pressure. Interim government is formed
  • Elections conducted in 2016 with Faustin-Archange Touadéra becoming the president
  • De facto split between ex-Séléka factions controlled north and east and Anti-balaka controlled south and west with a Séléka faction declaring the Republic of Logone.[14]
  • Fighting between Ex-Séléka factions FPRC and UPC.
  • Ex-president François Bozizé merges all rebel groups and forms the Coalition of Patriots for Change
  • Elections in 2021 with Faustin-Archange Touadéra being re-elected as president
Territorial
changes		 As of July 2021 the government controls more territory than at any point since the war began.[15]
Belligerents

 Central African Republic

MINUSCA (since 2014)
 Rwanda (since 2020)[1]
 Russia (since 2018)[1]

Formerly:

 South Africa (2013)
MISCA (2013–2014)
MICOPAX
(2008–2013)

 France (2013–2021)[7]

EUFOR RCA
(2014–2015)

MPC
Republic of Logone
PRNC
Lord's Resistance Army

Support:

Defunct groups:

Séléka (2012–2014)
RJ (2013–2018)
MNLC (2017–2019)
MLCJ (2008–2022)
RPRC (2014–2022)
Commanders and leaders
Faustin-Archange Touadéra
(since 2016)
Félix Moloua
(since 2022)
Valentine Rugwabiza
Paul Kagame
(since 2020)
Édouard Ngirente
(since 2020)
Vladimir Putin
(since 2018)
Mikhail Mishustin
(since 2020)
Dmitri Medvedev (2018—2020)

François Bozizé (since 2020)[16]
Noureddine Adam (FPRC)
Ali Darassa (UPC)
Mahamat al-Khatim (MPC) (POW)
Sembé Bobbo (3R)
Bernard Bonda (Anti-balaka)
Igor Lamaka (Anti-balaka)
Joseph Kony (LRA)

See full list: List of warlords in the Central African Republic
Strength

11,000 (2022)[citation needed]
MINUSCA: 15,760 (2022)[17]
Wagner Group: 1,200 (2022)[18]
Black Russians: 3,000+ [4]
Formerly:

2,000[19]
200[20]
ECCAS: 3,500+ peacekeepers[21][19]		 20,000+ (self-claim, 2022)[22]
3,000 (Séléka claim, 2015)[21]
1,000–2,000 (other estimates, 2014)[23]
Casualties and losses
Unknown
147 killed[17]
15 soldiers killed[24]
3 soldiers killed		 500+ rebel casualties (Bangui only, South African claim)
Civilian casualties:
Unknown number killed or wounded
200,000 internally displaced; 20,000 refugees (1 Aug 2013)[25]
700,000 internally displaced; +288,000 refugees (Feb 2014)[26]
Total: Thousands killed[27]
13,594+ killed (Oct 2022)[28]
Part of a series on the
  • History of the
  • Central African Republic
Early history
Colonial period
Independence
Current period

The Central African Republic Civil War is an ongoing civil war in the Central African Republic (CAR) involving the government, rebels from the Séléka coalition, and Anti-balaka militias.

In the preceding Central African Republic Bush War (2004–2007), the government of President François Bozizé fought with rebels until a peace agreement in 2007. The current conflict arose when a new coalition of varied rebel groups, known as Séléka, accused the government of failing to abide by the peace agreements,[29] captured many towns in 2012 and seized the capital in 2013.[30] Bozizé fled the country,[31] and the rebel leader Michel Djotodia declared himself president.[32] Renewed fighting began between Séléka and militias opposed to them called Anti-balaka.[33] In September 2013, President Djotodia disbanded the Séléka coalition, which had lost its unity after taking power, and resigned in 2014.[34][35] He was replaced by Catherine Samba-Panza,[36] but the conflict continued.[37] In July 2014, ex-Séléka factions and Anti-balaka representatives signed a ceasefire agreement.[38] By the end of 2014, the country was de facto partitioned with the Anti-Balaka controlling the south and west, from which most Muslims had evacuated, and ex-Séléka groups controlling the north and east.[39] Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who was elected president in 2016, ran and won the 2020 election, which triggered the main rebel factions to form an alliance opposed to the election called the Coalition of Patriots for Change, which was coordinated by former president Bozizé.[40] Peacekeeping largely transitioned from the ECCAS-led MICOPAX to the African Union-led MISCA to the United Nations-led MINUSCA, while the French peacekeeping mission was known as Operation Sangaris.

Much of the tension is over religious identity between Muslim Séléka fighters and Christian Anti-balaka, and ethnic differences among ex-Séléka factions, and historical antagonism between agriculturalists, who largely comprise Anti-balaka, and nomadic groups, who constitute most Séléka fighters.[41] Other contributing factors include the struggle for control of diamonds and other resources in the resource-rich country and for influence among regional powers such as Chad, Sudan and Rwanda and international powers such as France and Russia. More than 1.1 million people have fled their homes in a country of about 5 million people, the highest ever recorded in the country.[42]

  1. ^ a b Rwanda deploys troops to CAR under bilateral arrangement Archived 4 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine, The East African, 22 Dec 2020. Accessed 28 Dec 2020.
  2. ^ "Central African troops and Russian mercenaries accused of abuses in anti-rebel offensive". The New Humanitarian. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  3. ^ Sahinkaya, Ezel; Galperovich, Danila (9 May 2020). "Radical Russian Imperial Movement Expanding Global Outreach". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b L’incroyable constellation des groupes armés en Centrafrique Archived 29 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine, 27 July 2023
  5. ^ Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka (2 May 2024). "Centrafrique : des miliciens A Zandé Ani Kpi Gbé intègrent les rangs des Faca à Obo". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Morocco has deployed 762 blue helmets in the MINUSCA, who, he said, have succeeded in establishing bonds of trust with local populations regardless of their religious affiliations, said Bourita". Morocco expresses full support for Central African Republic Peace Agreement. The North Africa Post. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  7. ^ France suspends military, budgetary support to Central African Republic Archived 20 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine, 8 June 2021
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference aljazeera0614 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Chad Sends More Troops to CAR Border". Defense Post. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Sudan paramilitary funnelling weapons into Central African Republic, UN report reveals". 9 August 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  11. ^ Rebels Attack Cameroonian Town Close To Central African Republic Archived 11 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine, HumAngle, 11 Mar 2021. Accessed 11 Apr 2021.
  12. ^ Looting and gunfire in captured CAR capital Archived 24 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera.com (25 March 2013). Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  13. ^ 26 villagers killed by militants in Central African Republic Archived 23 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. NewsGhana.com.gh (22 November 2015). Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  14. ^ Central African rebel leader declares autonomous republic Archived 11 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Reuters (15 December 2015). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  15. ^ Central African Republic Control Map & Timeline – July 2021 Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine, PolGeoNow
  16. ^ "CAR ex-President François Bozizé takes charge of rebel alliance". 21 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Facts and Figures". MINUSCA. 22 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  18. ^ Wagner en Centrafrique: entre pénuries et mines d’or, la mission contrariée des mercenaires de Poutine Archived 4 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine, 3 June 2022
  19. ^ a b "More military help sought by UN to protect CAR civilians". The Africa News.Net. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Zille warns of 'CAR scandal'". Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  21. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference reuters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Edouard, Yamale (15 September 2022). "Centrafrique: "Bria": la CPC lance un ultimatum à la Minusca et projette engager plus de 20.000 dans la bataille". Le Tsunami (in French). Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Seleka, Central Africa's motley rebel coalition" Archived 13 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Radio Netherlands Worldwide
  24. ^ "CAR battle claims another SANDF soldier". Enca. South Africa. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  25. ^ "CrisisWatch Database". Archived from the original on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  26. ^ Casey-Maslen, Stuart (2014). The War Report: Armed Conflict in 2013. Oxford University Press. p. 411. ISBN 978-0-19-103764-1.
  27. ^ Massacre evidence found in CAR Archived 14 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Al Jazeera. 8 November 2013.
  28. ^ "ACLED Dashboard". ACLED. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  29. ^ Uppsala Conflict Data Program Conflict Encyclopedia, Central African Republic, In depth: The Seleka Rebellion, viewed 16 May 2013, http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=31&regionSelect=2-Southern_Africa# Archived 12 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ Zuma joins regional leaders over crisis in Central African Republic, BDay Live, by Nicholas Kotch, 19 April 2013, 07:50, http://www.bdlive.co.za/africa/africannews/2013/04/19/zuma-joins-regional-leaders-over-crisis-in-central-african-republic Archived 21 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference AJE CAR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ^ "Centrafrique: Michel Djotodia déclare être le nouveau président de la république centrafricaine" (in French). Radio France International. 24 March 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  33. ^ "CrisisWatch N°119". Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  34. ^ "Central African Republic president, PM resign at summit: statement". Reuters. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  35. ^ "CAR president Djotodia and PM Tiangaye resign". Radio France Internationale. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  36. ^ Cite error: The named reference RfiCSP01 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  37. ^ "New CAR PM says ending atrocities is priority". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  38. ^ "RCA: signature d’un accord de cessez-le-feu à Brazzaville Archived 29 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine". VOA. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  39. ^ "One day we will start a big war". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  40. ^ "CAR ex-President François Bozizé takes charge of rebel alliance". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  41. ^ "Displaced and forgotten in Central African Republic". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  42. ^ "Concert Blast Shows Central African Republic Religious Rift". Bloomberg. 21 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.