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{{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Central African Republic Civil War , image = , caption = Current military situation in Central African Republic (For a detailed map of the current military situation, see
here Here is an adverb that means "in, on, or at this place". It may also refer to: Software * Here Technologies, a mapping company * Here WeGo (formerly Here Maps), a mobile app and map website by Here Television * Here TV (formerly "here!"), a ...
) , date = 10 December 2012 – present
({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=12, day1=10, year1=2012) , place =
Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...

(Possible spillover into East Region,
Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the ...
)Rebels Attack Cameroonian Town Close To Central African Republic
HumAngle, 11 Mar 2021. Accessed 11 Apr 2021.
, result = Ongoing *
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
rebel coalition takes power from
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
. * Fighting between Séléka factions and Anti-balaka militias. * President
Michel Djotodia Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia (born c. 1949) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014. He was the first Muslim to hold that office in the predominantly Christian country. Djotodia was a l ...
resigns. Interim government is followed by an elected government. * 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 The Republic of Logone (french: République de Logone), also known as Dar al-Kuti (french: Dar el-Kouti, links=no), was a partially-realized, self-declared autonomous region and proto-state internationally recognised as part of the Central Afri ...
. * Fighting between Ex-Séléka factions FPRC and UPC. , territory = As of April 2022 government controls more territory than at any point since the war began in 2012. , combatant1 = {{nowrap, {{flag, Central African Republic *
Central African Armed Forces The Central African Armed Forces (french: Forces armées centrafricaines; FACA) are the armed forces of the Central African Republic and have been barely functional since the outbreak of the civil war in 2012. Today they are among the world's we ...
{{flagdeco, United Nations
MINUSCA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA, which is an initialism of its French name Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en Ce ...
(since 2014)
{{flag, Rwanda (since 2020)Rwanda deploys troops to CAR under bilateral arrangement
The East African, 22 Dec 2020. Accessed 28 Dec 2020.

{{flag, Russia (since 2018) * {{flagicon image}
Wagner Group The Wagner Group (russian: Группа Вагнера, Gruppa Vagnera), also known as PMC Wagner ( «Вагнер», ChVK «Vagner»; ), is a Russian paramilitary organization. It is variously described as a private military company (PMC), a ...
{{Cite news, date=2021-04-29, title=Central African troops and Russian mercenaries accused of abuses in anti-rebel offensive, language=en, work=The New Humanitarian, url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2021/4/29/the-human-rights-toll-of-central-african-republics-election-crisis, access-date=2021-05-13 * {{flagicon image, Flag of the Russian Imperial Movement.svg
Russian Imperial Movement The Russian Imperial Movement (RIM; russian: Русское Имперское Движениe, translit=Russkoe imperskoe dvizhenie, RID)Marlene Laruelle, ''Russian Nationalism: Imaginaries, Doctrines, and Political Battlefields'' (Routledge, 2 ...
{{cite web , url=https://www.voanews.com/a/extremism-watch_radical-russian-imperial-movement-expanding-global-outreach/6189020.html , title=Radical Russian Imperial Movement Expanding Global Outreach , last1=Sahinkaya , first1=Ezel , last2=Galperovich , first2=Danila , date=May 9, 2020 , website=
Voice of America Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the State media, state-owned news network and International broadcasting, international radio broadcaster of the United States, United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international br ...
, access-date=October 8, 2022
---- Formerly: {{flag, South Africa (2013)
MISCA The African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (french: Mission internationale de soutien à la Centrafrique sous conduite africaine, MISCA) is an African Union peacekeeping mission to the Central African Republic ...
(2013–2014)
{{Collapsible list , bullets = yes , title =
MICOPAX The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...

(2008–2013) , {{flag, Angola , {{flag, Cameroon , {{flag, Chad , {{flag, Morocco , {{flagdeco, Republic of the Congo
Congo-Brazzaville The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...
, {{flagdeco, Democratic Republic of the Congo
DRC The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
, {{flag, Gabon , {{flag, Burundi , {{flag, Equatorial Guinea , {{flag, São Tomé and Príncipe {{flag, France (2013–2021) {{Collapsible list , bullets =yes , title = {{flagdeco, European Union
EUFOR RCA European Union Force RCA, commonly referred as EUFOR RCA, is the United Nations-mandated European Union peacekeeping mission in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. The goal of the mission is to stabilize the area after more than a y ...

(2014–2015) , {{flag, Estonia , {{flag, Finland , {{flag, Georgia , {{flag, Latvia , {{flag, Luxembourg , {{flag, Netherlands , {{flag, Portugal , {{flag, Poland , {{flag, Romania , {{flag, Spain , {{flag, Italy , combatant2 = {{Collapsible list , bullets =yes , title = {{flagdeco, Central African Republic
Coalition of Patriots for Change The Coalition of Patriots for Change (''Coalition des patriotes pour le changement'') is a coalition of major rebel groups in the Central African Republic created in 2020 to disrupt the 2020–21 Central African general election. Background O ...
(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Central African Republic
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
, {{flagicon image, Flag of Dar El Kuti Republic.svg MPC , {{flagdeco, Central African Republic 3R , {{flagdeco, Central African Republic UPC , {{flagicon image, Flag of Dar El Kuti Republic.svg FPRC {{flagdeco, Central African Republic PRNC
{{flagicon image, Flag of Lord's Resistance Army.svg
Lord's Resistance Army The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), also known as the Lord's Resistance Movement, is a rebel group and heterodox Christian group which operates in northern Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the ...
{{Collapsible list , bullets =no , title = Support: , {{flag, Chad (alleged) , {{flagicon, Sudan RSF ---- Defunct groups: {{Collapsible list , bullets =yes , title = {{flagdeco, Central African Republic
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
(2012–2014) ,
CPJP The Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) is a rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR), which was involved in fighting in the Central African Republic Bush War starting in 2004. On June 12, 2011, the CPJP signed a ceasefire ...
, CPSK , UFDR , FDPC , FPR {{flagdeco, Central African Republic RJ (2013–2018)
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic MNLC (2017–2019)
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic MLCJ (2008–2022)
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic RPRC (2014–2022) , commander1 = {{flagdeco, Central African Republic
Faustin-Archange Touadéra Faustin-Archange Touadéra (; born 21 April 1957) is a Central African politician and academic who has been President of the Central African Republic since March 2016. He previously was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from Janua ...

(since 2016)
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic
Catherine Samba-Panza Catherine Samba-Panza (born 26 June 1954) is a Central African lawyer and politician who served as interim President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She was the first woman to hold the post of head of state in that country, as ...

(2014–2016)
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...

(2012–2013)
{{flagdeco, United Nations
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga Parfait Onanga-Anyanga is a Gabonese diplomat who has been serving as Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) since 2022. ...

{{flagdeco, France
Emmanuel Macron Emmanuel Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France since 2017. ''Ex officio'', he is also one of the two Co-Princes of Andorra. Prior to his presidency, Macron served as Minister of Econ ...

(2017–2021)
{{flagdeco, France
François Hollande François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. He previously was First Secretary of the Socialist Party (France), First Secretary of the Socialist P ...

(2013–2017)
{{flagdeco, South Africa
Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...

(2012–2013)
{{flagdeco, Rwanda
Paul Kagame Paul Kagame (; born 23 October 1957) is a Rwandan politician and former military officer who is the 4th and current president of Rwanda since 2000. He previously served as a commander of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Uganda-based rebel ...

(since 2020)
{{flagdeco, Russia
Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...

(since 2018)
{{Collapsible list , bullets =yes , title = MINUSCA: , {{flagdeco, Bangladesh
Mohammad Abdul Hamid Mohammad Abdul Hamid (born 1 January 1944) is a Bangladeshi politician who is currently serving as the president of Bangladesh. He was elected to his first term in April 2013, and re-elected to his current second term in 2018. Previously he serv ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina Wazed (''née'' Sheikh Hasina ; ; bn, শেখ হাসিনা ওয়াজেদ, Shēkh Hasinā, , born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh since January 2 ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Pakistan
Arif Alvi Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi (; born 29 July 1949) is a Pakistani dentist and politician currently serving as the 13th President of Pakistan, in office since 9 September 2018. He was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2013 to May 2 ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, Pakistan
Mamnoon Hussain Mamnoon Hussain ( ur, ; 22 December 1941 – 14 July 2021) was a Pakistani politician and industrialist who served as the 12th president of Pakistan from 2013 to 2018. He was first appointed Governor of Sindh in June 1999 by President Rafiq ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Pakistan
Shehbaz Sharif Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (Urdu, Punjabi: , ; born 23 September 1951) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who is currently serving as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, in office since 11 April 2022. He is the current president of ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Pakistan
Imran Khan Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi ( ur}; born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician and former Cricket captain who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to until April 2022, when he was ousted through a no-confiden ...

(2018–22) , {{flagdeco, Pakistan
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Shahid Khaqan Abbasi ( ur, ; born 27 December 1958) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who served as the 21st prime minister of Pakistan from August 2017 to May 2018. Abbasi is the senior vice president of the Pakiatan Muslim League ...

(2017–18) , {{flagdeco, Pakistan
Nawaz Sharif Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (Urdu, Punjabi: ; born 25 December 1949) is a Pakistani businessman and politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms. He is the longest-serving prime minister of Pak ...

(2014–17) , {{flagdeco, Egypt
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi; (born 19 November 1954) is an Egyptian politician and retired military officer who has served as the sixth and current president of Egypt since 2014. Before retiring as a general in the Egyptian mi ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Egypt
Mostafa Madbouly Mostafa Kamal Madbouly ( ar, مصطفى كمال مدبولي; born 28 April 1966) is the Prime Minister of Egypt, serving since 2018. He was appointed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to succeed Sherif Ismail following his government's resigna ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, Egypt
Sherif Ismail Sherif Ismail ( ar, شريف إسماعيل  ; born 6 July 1955) is an Egyptian engineer who served as prime minister between 2015 and 2018. He was minister of petroleum and mineral resources from 2013 to 2015. Career Ismail studied mechan ...

(2015–18) , {{flagdeco, Egypt
Ibrahim Mahlab Ibrahim Roshdy Mahlab ( ar, إبراهيم رشدى محلب  ; born 8 May 1949) is an Egyptian politician who was the Prime Minister of Egypt from 1 March 2014 until 19 September 2015. Previously he served as Minister of Housing. Career Ma ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Zambia
Hakainde Hichilema Hakainde Hichilema (born 4 June 1962) is a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021. After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 20 ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Zambia Edgar Lungu
(2015–21) , {{flagdeco, Zambia
Guy Scott Guy Lindsay Scott (born 1 June 1944) is a Zambian politician, who served as acting President of Zambia from 2014 to 2015, and was the Vice President from 2011 to 2014. Scott became acting President upon Michael Sata's death in office on 2 ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Nepal
Bidya Devi Bhandari Bidya Devi Bhandari (, ; born 19 June 1961) is a Nepali politician who is serving as the second and current president of Nepal. She formerly served as the minister of defence and minister of environment and population. She is the first woman t ...

(since 2015) , {{flagdeco, Nepal
Ram Baran Yadav Ram Baran Yadav ( mai, डा. राम वरण यादव) is a Nepali politician and physician who served as the first president of Nepal from 23 July 2008 to 29 October 2015, following the declaration of a republic in 2008. Previously he ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Nepal
Sher Bahadur Deuba Sher Bahadur Deuba ( ne, शेरबहादुर देउवा, ; born 13 June 1946) is a Nepali politician and former prime minister of Nepal. He has also been serving as the president of the Nepali Congress since 2016. Deuba has served ...

(since 2021, 2017–18) , {{flagdeco, Nepal
KP Sharma Oli Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli ( ne, खड्गप्रसाद शर्मा ओली, ; born 22 February 1952) is a Nepalese politician and former Prime Minister of Nepal. He served three terms as prime minister from 11 October 2015 to 3 Aug ...

(2015–16, 2018–21) , {{flagdeco, Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal
(2016–17) , {{flagdeco, Nepal
Sushil Koirala Sushil Prasad Koirala (; 12 August 1931 – 9 February 2016) was a Nepalese politician and the Prime Minister of Nepal from 11 February 2014 to 10 October 2015. He was also President of the Nepali Congress from 2010 to 2016, having earlier serve ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Mauritania Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
(2014–19) , {{flagdeco, Mauritania
Mohamed Ould Bilal Mohamed Ould Bilal (; born in 1963, Rosso), is a Mauritanian politician serving as the prime minister of Mauritania since 6 August 2020. Career Prime minister Prior to become the new Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal worked as the head of th ...

(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Mauritania Ismail Ould Bedde Ould Cheikh Sidiya
(2019–20) , {{flagdeco, Mauritania Mohamed Salem Ould Béchir
(2018–19) , {{flagdeco, Mauritania Yahya Ould Hademine
(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Tanzania
Samia Suluhu Hassan Samia Suluhu Hassan (born 27 January 1960) is a Tanzanian politician who has been serving since 19 March 2021 as the sixth (and first female) president of Tanzania. She is a member of the ruling social-democrat Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) part ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Tanzania
John Magufuli John Pombe Joseph Magufuli (29 October 1959 – 17 March 2021) was the fifth president of Tanzania, serving from 2015 until his death in 2021. He served as Minister of Works, Transport and Communications from 2000 to 2005 and 2010 to 2015 and wa ...

(2015–21) , {{flagdeco, Tanzania
Jakaya Kikwete Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (born 7 October 1950) is a Tanzanian politician who was the fourth president of Tanzania, in office from 2005 to 2015. Prior to his election as president, he was the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2005 under hi ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Tanzania
Kassim Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa (born 22 December 1961) is a Tanzanian politician who has been Prime Minister of Tanzania since 2015. He was appointed by President John Magufuli after the 2015 general election. He is a member of the ruling Chama Cha ...

(since 2015) , {{flagdeco, Tanzania Mizengo Pinda
(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Indonesia
Joko Widodo Joko Widodo (; born 21 June 1961), popularly known as Jokowi, is an Indonesian politician and businessman who is the 7th and current president of Indonesia. Elected in July 2014, he was the first Indonesian president not to come from an elit ...

(since 2015) , {{flagdeco, Senegal
Macky Sall Macky Sall (, wo, Maki Sàll, fuc, 𞤃𞤢𞤳𞤭 𞤅𞤢𞤤‎, italic=no, Maki Sal; born 11 December 1961) is a Senegalese politician who has been President of Senegal since April 2012. He was re-elected President in the first round vot ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Senegal Amadou Ba
(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Senegal
Mahammed Dionne Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne (born 22 September 1959) is a Senegalese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Senegal from 2014 to 2019. He was the third prime minister appointed by President Macky Sall. Dionne served at the Central Bank ...

(2014–19) , {{flagdeco, Peru
Pedro Castillo José Pedro Castillo Terrones (; born 19 October 1969) is a Peruvian politician, former elementary school teacher, and union leader who served as the President of Peru from 28 July 2021 to 7 December 2022. On 7 December 2022, he was impeached a ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Peru
Francisco Sagasti Francisco Rafael Sagasti Hochhausler OSP ( (); born 10 October 1944) is a Peruvian engineer, academic, and author who served as the President of Peru from November 2020 to July 2021. Sagasti has worked as an advisor for economic development ...

(2020–21) , {{flagdeco, Peru
Manuel Merino Manuel Arturo Merino de Lama (born 20 August 1961) is a Peruvian politician who briefly served as President of Peru for six days between 10 and 15 November 2020. He also served as the President of Congress from 16 March 2020 to 15 November 20 ...

(2020) , {{flagdeco, Peru
Martín Vizcarra Martín Alberto Vizcarra Cornejo (; born 22 March 1963) is a Peruvian engineer and politician who served as President of Peru from 2018 to 2020. Vizcarra previously served as Governor of the Department of Moquegua (2011–2014), First Vice P ...

(2018–20) , {{flagdeco, Peru
Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Pedro is a masculine given name. Pedro is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Galician name for ''Peter''. Its French equivalent is Pierre while its English and Germanic form is Peter. The counterpart patronymic surname of the name Pedro, meaning " ...

(2016–18) , {{flagdeco, Peru
Ollanta Humala Lieutenant colonel Ollanta Moisés Humala Tasso (; born 27 June 1962) is a Peruvian politician and former military officer who served as President of Peru from 2011 to 2016. Originally a socialist and left-wing nationalist, he is considere ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Cambodia
Norodom Sihamoni Norodom Sihamoni ( km, នរោត្តម សីហមុនី, ; born 14 May 1953) is King of Cambodia. He became King on 14 October 2004, a week after the abdication of his father, Norodom Sihanouk. He is the eldest son of Norodom Sih ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Cambodia
Hun Sen Hun Sen (; km, ហ៊ុន សែន, ; born 5 August 1952) is a Cambodian politician and former military commander who has served as the prime minister of Cambodia since 1985. He is the longest-serving head of government of Cambodia, and ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia
Kais Saied Kais Saied ( ar, قَيس سَعيد; born 22 February 1958) is a Tunisian politician, jurist, and retired law professor, and currently the 8th President of Tunisia since October 2019. He was president of the Tunisian Association of Constitution ...

(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia
Mohamed Ennaceur Mohamed Ennaceur ( ar, محمد الناصر; born 21 March 1934) is a Tunisian politician who served as the 7th president of Tunisia for 91 days, from President Beji Caid Essebsi's death on 25 July 2019 until he handed over the presidency to Kai ...

(2019) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia
Beji Caid Essebsi Beji Caid Essebsi (or es-Sebsi; ar, الباجي قائد السبسي, translit=Muhammad al-Bājī Qā’id as-Sibsī, ; 29 November 1926 – 25 July 2019) was a Tunisian politician who served as the 6th president of Tunisia from 31 December 2 ...

(2014–19) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia Najla Bouden
(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia
Hichem Mechichi Hichem Mechichi ( ar, هشام المشيشي; born January 1974) is a Tunisia, Tunisian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Tunisia, from 2020 to 2021, when he was dismissed by President Kais Saied. He held the post of Ministry of the ...

(2020–21) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia
Elyes Fakhfakh Elyes Fakhfakh ( ar, إلياس الفخفاخ; born 1972) is a Tunisian politician. He served as the Minister of Tourism and, starting on 19 of December 2012, as the Minister of Finances as well, under Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali.Asma GhribiEly ...

(2020) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia Youssef Chahed
(2016–20) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia
Habib Essid Habib Essid ( ar, حبيب الصيد; born 1 June 1949) is a Tunisian politician who was Head of Government of Tunisia from 6 February 2015 to 27 August 2016. He was the first Head of Government to be appointed following the adoption of the new ...

(2015–16) , {{flagdeco, Tunisia
Mehdi Jomaa Mehdi Jomaa ( ar, مهدي جمعة; born 21 April 1962) is a Tunisian engineer and was the acting Prime Minister of Tunisia from 29 January 2014 to 6 February 2015. He was chosen on 14 December 2013. Jomaa was Minister of Industry in the Ali ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Sri Lanka
Ranil Wickremesinghe Ranil Wickremesinghe ( si, රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ, ta, ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க; born 24 March 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician who is the current president of Sri Lanka since 21 July 2 ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Sri Lanka
Gotabaya Rajapaksa Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa ( si, නන්දසේන ගෝඨාභය රාජපක්ෂ; ta, நந்தசேன கோட்டாபய ராஜபக்ஷ; born 20 June 1949) is a former Sri Lankan military ...

(2019–22) , {{flagdeco, Sri Lanka
Maithripala Sirisena Maithripala Yapa Sirisena ( si, පල්ලෙවත්‍ත ගමරාළලාගේ මෛත්‍රීපාල යාපා සිරිසේන; ta, பல்லேவத்த கமராளலாகே மைத்திரி� ...

(2015–19) , {{flagdeco, Sri Lanka
Mahinda Rajapaksa Mahinda Rajapaksa ( si, මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ, ta, மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ; born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa; 18 November 1945) is a Sri Lankan politician. He served as the President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Serbia
Aleksandar Vučić Aleksandar Vučić ( sr-Cyrl, Александар Вучић, ; born 5 March 1970) is a Serbian politician serving as the president of Serbia since 2017, and as the president of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) since 2012. Vučić serve ...

(since 2017) , {{flagdeco, Serbia
Tomislav Nikolić Tomislav Nikolić ( sr-Cyrl, Томислав Николић, ; born 15 February 1952) is a Serbian retired politician who served as the president of Serbia from 2012 to 2017. A former member of the far-right Serbian Radical Party (SRS), he di ...

(2014–17) , {{flagdeco, Ivory Coast
Alassane Ouattara Alassane Dramane Ouattara (; ; born 1 January 1942) is an Ivorian politician who has been President of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) since 2010. An economist by profession, Ouattara worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF)Patrick Achi Patrick Achi (born 17 November 1955) is an Ivorian politician who serves as Prime Minister of Ivory Coast since March 2021. A member of the Rally of the Republicans, he studied at Supélec and Stanford University and specialises in engineering ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Ivory Coast Hamed Bakayoko
(2020–21) , {{flagdeco, Ivory Coast
Amadou Gon Coulibaly Amadou Gon Coulibaly (10 February 19598 July 2020) was an Ivorian politician who served as Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire from January 2017 until his death in July 2020. He was the ruling party's candidate in the 2020 Ivorian presidential ...

(2017–20) , {{flagdeco, Ivory Coast
Daniel Kablan Duncan Daniel Kablan Duncan (born 30 June 1943) is an Ivorian politician. He previously served as Prime Minister of Ivory Coast from 11 December 1993 to 24 December 1999 and again from November 2012 to January 2017. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs ...

(2014–17) , {{flagdeco, Jordan
Abdullah II Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein ( ar, عبدالله الثاني بن الحسين , translit=ʿAbd Allāh aṯ-ṯānī ibn al-Ḥusayn; born 30 January 1962) is King of Jordan, having ascended the throne on 7 February 1999. He is a member of t ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Jordan
Bisher Al-Khasawneh Bisher Al-Khasawneh ( ar, بشر الخصاونة; born 27 January 1969) is a Jordanian politician and diplomat who is serving as the 43rd Prime Minister of Jordan and Minister of Defence since 12 October 2020. Al-Khasawneh was an ambassador o ...

(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Jordan
Omar Razzaz Omar Razzaz ( ar, عمر الرزاز; born 17 May 1961) was the 42nd Prime Minister of Jordan from June 14, 2018 to October 12, 2020. He was designated to form a new government on 5 June 2018 after his predecessor resigned as a result of wides ...

(2018–20) , {{flagdeco, Jordan
Hani Mulki Hani Fawzi Mulki (also known as Hani Mulki; ar, هاني الملقي; '; born 15 October 1951) is a Jordanian politician that held several ministerial and diplomatic positions, and he was Chief Commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Au ...

(2016–18) , {{flagdeco, Jordan
Abdullah Ensour Abdullah Ensour ( ; ar, عبد الله النسور '; born 20 January 1939) is a Jordanian economist who served as the 40th Prime Minister of Jordan between October 2012 and May 2016. A veteran politician, he has held various cabinet positions ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Turkey
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (born 26 February 1954) is a Turkish politician serving as the 12th and current president of Turkey since 2014. He previously served as prime minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Turkey
Ahmet Davutoğlu Ahmet Davutoğlu (; born 26 February 1959) is a Turkish academic, politician and former diplomat who served as the 26th Prime Minister of Turkey and Leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) from 2014 to 2016. He previously served as ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Turkey
Binali Yıldırım Binali Yıldırım (; born 20 December 1955) is a Turkish politician who served as the 27th and last Prime Minister of Turkey from 2016 to 2018 and Speaker of the Grand National Assembly from 2018 to 2019. He was Leader of the Justice and Deve ...

(2016–18) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso
Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba (; born January 1981) is a Burkinabé military officer who served as interim president of Burkina Faso from 31 January 2022 to 30 September 2022, when he was removed in a coup d'état, by his own military colleague Ibr ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso
Roch Marc Christian Kaboré Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (; born 25 April 1957) is a Burkinabé banker and politician who served as the President of Burkina Faso from 2015 until he was deposed in 2022. He was the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso between 1994 and 1996 and Pr ...

(2015–22) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso
Michel Kafando Michel Kafando (born 18 August 1942) is a Burkinabé diplomat who served as the transitional President of Burkina Faso from 2014

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso
Chérif Sy
(2015) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso
Gilbert Diendéré Gilbert Diendéré (; born 1960) is a Burkinabé military officer and the Chairman of the National Council for Democracy, the military junta that briefly seized power in Burkina Faso in the September 2015 coup d'état. He was a long-time aide ...

(2015) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso Yacouba Isaac Zida
(2014) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso Honoré Traoré
(2014) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso
Albert Ouédraogo Albert Ouédraogo (born 6 April 1969) is a Burkinabé economist who served as prime minister of Burkina Faso in the aftermath of the January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état, from 3 March until another coup on 30 September. Early life and educa ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso
Lassina Zerbo Lassina Zerbo (born 10 October 1963) is a Burkinabé politician and scientist who served as the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 2021 to 2022. Prior to that he was the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organizati ...

(2021–22) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso
Christophe Joseph Marie Dabiré Christophe Joseph Marie Dabiré (born 27 August 1948) is a Burkinabé politician who served as the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 24 January 2019 to 9 December 2021. He was appointed to the position of Prime Minister by President Roch Marc C ...

(2019–21) , {{flagdeco, Burkina Faso Paul Kaba Thieba
(2016–19) , {{flagdeco, Niger
Mohamed Bazoum Mohamed Bazoum ( ar, محمد بازوم), is a Nigerien politician who is the current president of the Republic of Niger. He has been in office since 2 April 2021. Before becoming President, he served as the President of the Nigerien Party ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Niger
Mahamadou Issoufou Mahamadou Issoufou (born 1 January 1952) is a Nigerien politician who served as the President of Niger from 7 April 2011 to 2 April 2021. Issoufou was the prime minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994, president of the National Assembly from 1995 t ...

(2014–21) , {{flagdeco, Niger
Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou (born 1954) is a Nigerien politician of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya) who has been serving as Prime Minister of Niger since 3 April 2021. Mahamadou served in the government of Niger as Mini ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Niger Brigi Rafini
(2014–21) , {{flagdeco, Benin
Patrice Talon Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon (born 1 May 1958) is a Beninese politician and businessman who has been President of Benin since 6 April 2016. Early life and career Talon is of Fon origin and was born in Ouidah. He descends from slave trader ...

(since 2016) , {{flagdeco, Benin
Thomas Boni Yayi Thomas Boni Yayi (born 1 July 1951) is a Beninese banker and politician who was President of Benin from 2006 to 2016. He took office after winning the March 2006 presidential election and was re-elected to a second term in March 2011. He also s ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Benin Lionel Zinsou
(2015–16) , {{flagdeco, Togo
Faure Gnassingbé Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma (; born 6 June 1966"Biographie de nouve ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Togo
Victoire Tomegah Dogbé
(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Togo
Komi Sélom Klassou Komi Sélom Klassou (born February 10, 1960
etiame.com .
Kwesi Ahoomey-Zunu Kwesi Ahoomey-Zunu is a Togolese politician who was Prime Minister of Togo from July 2012 to June 2015. He was previously Minister of Trade from March 2011 to July 2012. Biography Ahoomey-Zunu attended Tokoin High School, a district in Lomé. ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Gambia
Adama Barrow Adama Barrow ( ff, 𞤀𞥄𞤣𞤢𞤥𞤢 𞤄𞤢𞥄𞤪𞤮, Aadama Baaro, born 15 February 1965) is a Gambian politician and real estate developer who has served as President of the Gambia since 2017. Born in Mankamang Kunda, a village ...

(since 2017) , {{flagdeco, Gambia
Yahya Jammeh Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (born 25 May 1965) is a Gambian politician and former military officer who was the leader of The Gambia from 1994 to 2017, firstly as chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) from 19 ...

(2014–17) , {{flagdeco, Mali
Assimi Goïta Colonel Assimi Goïta (born 1983) is a Malian military officer who has been interim President of Mali since 28 May 2021. Goïta was the leader of the , a military junta that seized power from former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in the 20 ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Mali
Bah Ndaw Bah Ndaw (also spelled N'Daw, N'Dah, and N'Daou; born 23 August 1950) is a Malian military officer and politician who served as the president of Mali between 25 September 2020 and 24 May 2021 when he was overthrown during the 2021 Malian coup d ...

(2020–21) , {{flagdeco, Mali
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (; 29 January 1945 – 16 January 2022), often known by his initials IBK, was a Malian politician who served as the president of Mali from September 2013 to August 2020, when he was forced to resign in the 2020 Malian cou ...

(2014–20) , {{flagdeco, Mali Abdoulaye Maïga
(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Mali Choguel Kokalla Maïga
(2021–22) , {{flagdeco, Mali Moctar Ouane
(2020–21) , {{flagdeco, Mali
Boubou Cissé Boubou Cissé (born 1974) is a Malian politician who was the Prime Minister of Mali from April 2019 to his resignation following the 2020 Malian coup d'état in August 2020. He was also the Minister of Economy and Finance and Minister of Mines ...

(2019–20) , {{flagdeco, Mali Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga
(2017–19) , {{flagdeco, Mali Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga
(2017) , {{flagdeco, Mali
Modibo Keita Modibo or more correctlyMoodibbo in Fula or Fulfulde Orthography is a given name in some Fulɓe or Fulani regions, while in some regions it's used as a form of respect which means a learned scholar. Others are named moodibbo after one's parents or g ...

(2015–17) , {{flagdeco, Mali Moussa Mara
(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Kenya William Ruto
(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Kenya
Uhuru Kenyatta Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. Kenyatta was chosen by Daniel Arap Moi as his preferred successor, but Kenyatta was defeated by opposition le ...

(2014–22) , {{flagdeco, Guinea
Mamady Doumbouya Mamady Doumbouya (N'Ko script, N'Ko: , born 4 March 1980) is a Guinean Republic of Guinea Armed Forces, military officer serving as the interim president of Guinea since 1 October 2021. Doumbouya led 2021 Guinean coup d'état, a coup d'état on ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Guinea
Alpha Condé Alpha Condé (N'Ko: ; born 4 March 1938) is a Guinean politician who served as the fourth president of Guinea from 2010 to 2021. Condé spent decades in opposition to a succession of regimes in Guinea, unsuccessfully running against President L ...

(2014–21) , {{flagdeco, Guinea
Bernard Goumou Bernard Goumou (born 2 October 1960) is a Guinean politician who serves as the prime minister of Guinea This article lists the prime ministers of Guinea, since the establishment of the office of Prime Minister in 1972. List Key ;''Politica ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Guinea
Mohamed Béavogui Mohamed Béavogui (born 15 August 1953 in Porédaka) is a Guinean diplomat and politician, and the former interim prime minister of Guinea from 6 October 2021 to 17 July 2022. Biography Béavogui was born in August 1953 in Porédaka, the son o ...

(2021–22) , {{flagdeco, Guinea
Ibrahima Kassory Fofana Ibrahima Kassory Fofana (born 15 April 1954) is a Guinean politician who served as Prime Minister of Guinea between 21 May 2018 and 5 September 2021. A macro-economist and specialist in economic policy, he previously held several strategic posit ...

(2018–21) , {{flagdeco, Guinea
Mamady Youla Mamady Youla (born 1961) is a Guinean businessman and politician who was the Prime Minister of Guinea from 2015 to 2018. Youla was managing director of Guinea Alumina Corporation, a mining company and subsidiary of a company based in the United A ...

(2015–18) , {{flagdeco, Guinea
Mohamed Said Fofana Mohamed Said Fofana (born 1952) was the Prime Minister of Guinea from 2010 to 2015. He was appointed by President Alpha Condé on December 24, 2010. His previous role was director of economic research at the commerce ministry. Fofana and his gove ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Ghana
Nana Akufo-Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ( ; born 29 March 1944) is a Ghanaian politician who has served as the president of Ghana since 7 January 2017. In 2020, he was re-elected for his second term, which will end on 6 January 2025. Akufo-Addo previously ...

(since 2017) , {{flagdeco, Ghana
John Mahama John Dramani Mahama (; born 29 November 1958) is a Ghanaian politician who served as President of Ghana from 24 July 2012 to 7 January 2017. He previously served as Vice President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012, and took office as pres ...

(2014–17) , {{flagdeco, Brazil
Jair Bolsonaro Jair Messias Bolsonaro (; born 21 March 1955) is a Brazilian politician and retired military officer who has been the 38th president of Brazil since 1 January 2019. He was elected in 2018 as a member of the Social Liberal Party, which he turn ...

(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Brazil
Michel Temer Michel Miguel Elias Temer Lulia (; born 23 September 1940) is a Brazilian politician, lawyer and writer who served as the 37th president of Brazil from 31 August 2016 to 31 December 2018. He took office after the impeachment and removal from off ...

(2016–19) , {{flagdeco, Brazil
Dilma Rousseff Dilma Vana Rousseff (; born 14 December 1947) is a Brazilian economist and politician who served as the 36th president of Brazil, holding the position from 2011 until her impeachment and removal from office on 31 August 2016. She is the first ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Djibouti
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh Ismaïl Omar Guelleh ( so, Ismaaciil Cumar Geelle ar, إسماعيل عمر جليه) (born 27 November 1947) is the current President of Djibouti. He has been in office since 1999, making him one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa. He is ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Djibouti
Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed ( aa, Qabdulkadir Kamil Macammad, ar, عبد القادر كامل محمد; born 1 July 1951 in Souali, Djibouti) is a Djiboutian politician who has been Prime Minister of Djibouti since 2013. A longtime member of th ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Nigeria
Muhammadu Buhari Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician and current president of Nigeria since 2015. Buhari is a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as the country's military head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 A ...

(since 2015) , {{flagdeco, Nigeria
Goodluck Jonathan Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957)Lawson Heyford, ''The Source'' (Lagos), 11 December 2006. is a Nigerian politician who served as the President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to fo ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, United States Joe Biden
(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, United States
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

(2017–21) , {{flagdeco, United States
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...

(2014–17) , {{flagdeco, Vietnam
Nguyễn Phú Trọng Nguyễn Phú Trọng (born 14 April 1944) is a Vietnamese politician who has served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam — the highest political position in Vietnam — since 2011. In addition, Nguyễn Phú Trọng ser ...

(since 2014, 2018–21) , {{flagdeco, Vietnam
Nguyễn Xuân Phúc Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (born 20 July 1954) is a Vietnamese politician currently serving as the President of Vietnam, one of the highest-ranked officials in Vietnam along with Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vie ...

(since 2021, 2016–21) , {{flagdeco, Vietnam
Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh (born 25 December 1959) is a Vietnamese politician who served as the Vice President of Vietnam, in office from 2016 to 2021. In this capacity she was the Acting President of Vietnam from the death of President Tr� ...

(2018) , {{flagdeco, Vietnam
Trần Đại Quang Trần Đại Quang (12 October 1956 – 21 September 2018) was a Vietnamese politician and former police general who served as the eighth President of Vietnam from 2 April 2016 until his death in 2018. Trần Đại Quang was elected to the post ...

(2016–18) , {{flagdeco, Vietnam
Trương Tấn Sang Trương Tấn Sang (born 21 January 1949) is a Vietnamese politician, who served as the seventh President of Vietnam from 2011 to 2016. He was one of Vietnam's top leaders, alongside prime minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and Party general secret ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Vietnam
Phạm Minh Chính Phạm Minh Chính (born 10 December 1958) is a Vietnamese politician, the current Prime Minister of Vietnam, one of the highest-ranked officials in Vietnam along with Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Vietnam
Nguyễn Tấn Dũng Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (born 17 November 1949) is a Vietnamese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Vietnam from 2006 to 2016. He was confirmed by the National Assembly on 27 June 2006, having been nominated by his predecessor, Phan Vă ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Bhutan
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck ( dz, འཇིགས་མེད་གེ་སར་རྣམ་རྒྱལ་དབང་ཕྱུག་, ; born 21 February 1980) is the Druk Gyalpo (Dzongkha: Dragon King) of the Kingdom of Bhutan. After his ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Bhutan
Lotay Tshering Lotay Tshering ( dz, བློ་གྲོས་ཚེ་རིང་; born 10 May 1969) is a Bhutanese politician and surgeon who is the current Prime Minister of Bhutan, in office since 7 November 2018. He has also been the president of Druk ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, Bhutan
Tshering Tobgay Tshering Tobgay ( dz, ཚེ་རིང་སྟོབས་རྒྱས།; born 19 September 1965) is a Bhutanese politician, environmentalist, and cultural advocate who was the Prime Minister of Bhutan from July 2013 to August 2018. Tobgay is ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Sierra Leone
Julius Maada Bio Julius Maada Wonie Bio (born 12 May 1964) is a Sierra Leonean politician, and the current president of Sierra Leone since 4 April 2018. He is a retired brigadier general in the Sierra Leone Army and was the military head of state of Sierra Leo ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, Sierra Leone
Ernest Bai Koroma Ernest Bai Koroma (born 2 October 1953) is a Sierra Leonean politician who served as the fourth President of Sierra Leone from 17 September 2007 to 4 April 2018. Born and raised in Makeni in northern Sierra Leone, Koroma spent more than 24 ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Guatemala
Alejandro Giammattei Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla (; born 9 March 1956) is a Guatemalan politician who is serving as the president of Guatemala since 2020. He is a former director of the Guatemalan penitentiary system and participated in Guatemala's president ...

(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Guatemala
Jimmy Morales Jimmy Morales (born James Ernesto Morales Cabrera, ; 18 March 1969) is a Guatemalan politician, actor and comedian. From 2016 to 2020, he served as the 50th president of Guatemala. Early and personal life Morales was born in Guatemala City ...

(2016–20) , {{flagdeco, Guatemala Alejandro Maldonado
(2015–16) , {{flagdeco, Guatemala
Otto Pérez Molina Otto Fernando Pérez Molina (born 1 December 1950) is a Guatemalan politician and retired general, who was President of Guatemala from 2012 to 2015. Standing as the Patriotic Party (''Partido Patriota'') candidate, he lost the 2007 president ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Paraguay
Mario Abdo Benítez Mario Abdo Benítez (; born 10 November 1971) is a Paraguayan politician who has served as the president of Paraguay since 2018. He was previously a senator and President of the Senate. Early life and education Abdo Benítez was born in Asun ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, Paraguay
Horacio Cartes Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara (born 5 July 1956) is a Paraguayan businessman and politician who served as the president of Paraguay from 2013 to 2018. He is a member of the Colorado Party. Cartes owns about two dozen businesses in his Grupo Carte ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Maia Sandu Maia Sandu (; born 24 May 1972) is a Moldovan politician who has been the President of Moldova since 24 December 2020. She is the former leader of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and former Prime Minister of Moldova from 8 June 2019 ...

(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Igor Dodon Igor Dodon (; born 18 February 1975) is a Moldovan politician who previously served as the president of Moldova from 23 December 2016 to 24 December 2020. He currently serves as the leader of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova. ...

(2016–20) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Nicolae Timofti Nicolae Timofti (; born 22 December 1948 in Ciutulești, Moldavian SSR) is a Moldovan jurist and politician who was President of Moldova from 23 March 2012 until 23 December 2016. He served as head of Moldova's Supreme Magistrate Council and wa ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Natalia Gavrilița Natalia Gavrilița (; born 21 September 1977) is a Moldovan economist and politician who has served as prime minister of Moldova since 2021. Gavrilița was previously proposed as prime minister by Maia Sandu in February 2021, but was rejected ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Aureliu Ciocoi Aureliu Ciocoi (; born 5 June 1968 in Chișinău) is a Moldovan diplomat who has served as Acting Prime Minister of Moldova between 2020 and 2021, as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 9 November 2020. He also served as foreign minister in 2019 a ...

(2020–21) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Ion Chicu Ion Chicu (; born 28 February 1972) is a Moldovan politician who served as Prime Minister of Moldova between 2019 until his resignation in 2020. Biography He was born on 28 February 1972 in the village of Pîrjolteni, located in the Moldovan ...

(2019–20) , {{flagdeco, Moldova Pavel Filip
(2016–19) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Gheorghe Brega Gheorghe Brega (born 25 September 1951 in Drepcăuți, Briceni District, Soviet Moldova) is a Moldovan politician who was the acting Prime Minister of Moldova from 30 October 2015 to 20 January 2016. He served as Deputy Prime Minister for Soci ...

(2015–16) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Valeriu Streleț Valeriu Streleț (; born 8 March 1970) is a Moldovan politician who was Prime Minister of Moldova in 2015. He subsequently received a vote of no-confidence on 29 October 2015. Biography He has been a member of the Parliament of Moldova since ...

(2015) , {{flagdeco, Moldova Natalia Gherman
(2015) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Chiril Gaburici Chiril Gaburici (; born 23 November 1976 in Logănești) is a Moldovan businessman and former Prime Minister of Moldova. Biography Chiril Gaburici was born on 23 November 1976, in Logănești, Kotovsk raion of the then Soviet Republic of Mol ...

(2015) , {{flagdeco, Moldova
Iurie Leancă Iurie Leancă (; born 20 October 1963) is a Moldovan politician who was the Prime Minister of Moldova from 2013 until 2015. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration from 2009 to 2013 as part of the First and Second Filat Cabin ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Bolivia
Luis Arce Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (; born 28 September 1963), often referred to as Lucho, is a Bolivian banker, economist, and politician serving as the 67th president of Bolivia since 2020. A member of the Movement for Socialism, he previously serv ...

(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Bolivia
Jeanine Áñez Jeanine Áñez Chávez (; born 13 June 1967) is a Bolivian lawyer, politician, and television presenter who served as the 66th president of Bolivia from 2019 to 2020. A former member of the Social Democratic Movement, she previously served two ...

(2019–20) , {{flagdeco, Bolivia
Evo Morales Juan Evo Morales Ayma (; born 26 October 1959) is a Bolivian politician, trade union organizer, and former cocalero activist who served as the 65th president of Bolivia from 2006 to 2019. Widely regarded as the country's first president to c ...

(2014–19) , {{flagdeco, Czech Republic
Miloš Zeman Miloš Zeman (; born 28 September 1944) is a Czech politician serving as the third and current President of the Czech Republic since 2013. He previously served as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 1998 to 2002. As leader of the Cze ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Czech Republic Petr Fiala
(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Czech Republic
Andrej Babiš Andrej Babiš (; born 2 September 1954) is a Czech politician and businessman of Slovak descent who served as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 2017 to 2021. Babis previously served as the Minister of Finance and deputy Prime Minister ...

(2017–21) , {{flagdeco, Czech Republic
Bohuslav Sobotka Bohuslav Sobotka (; born 23 October 1971) is a Czech politician and lawyer who served as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from January 2014 to December 2017 and Leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) from 2010 until his resig ...

(2014–17) , {{flagdeco, Uruguay
Luis Lacalle Pou Luis Alberto Aparicio Alejandro Lacalle Pou (; ''Luis Lacalle'' locally or ; born 10 August 1973) is a Uruguayan politician and lawyer serving as President of Uruguay since 1 March 2020. Son of former president Luis Alberto Lacalle, Lacalle P ...

(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Uruguay
Tabaré Vázquez Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas (; ''Vázquez Rosas'' locally ; 17 January 19406 December 2020) was a Uruguayan politician who served as the 41st president of Uruguay from 2015 to 2020. He previously served from 2005 to 2010 as the 39th presiden ...

(2015–20) , {{flagdeco, Uruguay
José Mujica José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano (; born 20 May 1935) is a Uruguayan politician, former revolutionary and farmer who served as the 40th president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. A former guerrilla with the Tupamaros, he was tortured and im ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Argentina
Alberto Fernández Alberto Ángel Fernández (; born 2 April 1959) is an Argentine politician, lawyer and professor, serving as president of Argentina since 2019. Born in Buenos Aires, Fernández attended the University of Buenos Aires, where he earned his law ...

(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Argentina
Mauricio Macri Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previo ...

(2015–19) , {{flagdeco, Argentina
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner (; born 19 February 1953), often referred to by her initials CFK, is an Argentine lawyer and politician who has served as the Vice President of Argentina since 2019. She also served as the President o ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Colombia
Gustavo Petro Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego (; born 19 April 1960) is a Colombian economist, politician, and former guerrilla fighter who is the current president of Colombia since 2022. After taking office, Petro was considered by analysts as Colombia ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Colombia Iván Duque
(2018–22) , {{flagdeco, Colombia
Juan Manuel Santos Juan Manuel Santos Calderón (; born 10 August 1951) is a Colombian politician who was the President of Colombia from 2010 to 2018. He was the sole recipient of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. An economist by profession and a journalist by trade ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Mexico
Andrés Manuel López Obrador Andrés Manuel López Obrador (; born 13 November 1953), also known by his initials AMLO, is a Mexican politician who has been serving as the 65th president of Mexico since 1 December 2018. He previously served as Head of Government of Mex ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, Mexico
Enrique Peña Nieto Enrique Peña Nieto (; born 20 July 1966), commonly referred to by his initials EPN, is a Mexican politician who served as the 64th president of Mexico from 1 December 2012 to 30 November 2018. A member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Philippines
Bongbong Marcos Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. ( , , ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM, is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and current president of the Philippines. He previously served as a sen ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Philippines
Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...

(2016–22) , {{flagdeco, Philippines
Benigno Aquino III Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (; February 8, 1960 – June 24, 2021), also known as Noynoy Aquino and colloquially as PNoy, was a Filipino politician who served as the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. The son of ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. He ascended the throne on the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf, on 15 September 1973. He is the youngest child and only son of Prince Gustaf Adolf, D ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Sweden
Magdalena Andersson Eva Magdalena Andersson (born 23 January 1967) is a Swedish politician and economist who has served as Leader of the Opposition since October 2022 and Leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party since 2021. She has served as a Member of the R ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Sweden
Stefan Löfven Kjell Stefan Löfven (; officially ''Löfvén''; born 21 July 1957) is a Swedish politician who serves as the President of European Socialists since October 2022. He previously served as Prime Minister of Sweden from October 2014 to November 20 ...

(2014–21) , {{flagdeco, Zimbabwe
Emmerson Mnangagwa Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (, US: (); born 15 September 1942) is a Zimbabwean politician who has served as President of Zimbabwe since 24 November 2017. A member of ZANU–PF and a longtime ally of former President Robert Mugabe, he held a ...

(since 2017) , {{flagdeco, Zimbabwe
Phelekezela Mphoko Phelekezela Mphoko (born 11 June 1940) is a Zimbabwean politician, diplomat, businessman and former military commander who served as Second Vice-President of Zimbabwe from 2014 until 2017, as well as Zimbabwe's ambassador to Russia, Botswana an ...

(2017) , {{flagdeco, Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe Robert Gabriel Mugabe (; ; 21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He served as Leader of the ...

(2014–17) {{Collapsible list , bullets =yes , title = EUFOR RCA: , {{flagdeco, Estonia
Alar Karis Alar Karis (; born 26 March 1958) is an Estonian molecular geneticist, developmental biologist, civil servant and politician who, since 11 October 2021, has served as the sixth President of Estonia. Prior to presidency Karis was born in Ta ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Estonia
Kersti Kaljulaid Kersti Kaljulaid (; born 30 December 1969) is an Estonian politician who served as the fifth president of Estonia between 2016 and 2021. She was also the first and only female head of state of Estonia since the country declared independence in ...

(2016–21) , {{flagdeco, Estonia
Toomas Hendrik Ilves Toomas Hendrik Ilves (; born 26 December 1953) is an Estonian politician who served as the fourth president of Estonia from 2006 until 2016. Ilves worked as a diplomat and journalist, and he was the leader of the Social Democratic Party in the ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Estonia
Kaja Kallas Kaja Kallas (; born 18 June 1977) is an Estonian politician who has been serving as the prime minister of Estonia since 2021. The leader of the Reform Party since 2018, she was a Member of Parliament from 2019 to 2021, and previously between ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Estonia
Jüri Ratas Jüri Ratas (; born 2 July 1978) is an Estonian politician who was the 18th prime minister of Estonia from 2016 to 2021. He has been Leader of the Centre Party since 2016, and was the mayor of Tallinn from 2005 to 2007. Jüri Ratas' first cab ...

(2016–21) , {{flagdeco, Estonia
Taavi Rõivas Taavi Rõivas (; born 26 September 1979) is a Estonian politician, former Prime Minister of Estonia from 2014 to 2016 and former leader of the Reform Party. Before his term as the Prime Minister, Rõivas was the Minister of Social Affairs fro ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Finland
Sauli Niinistö Sauli Väinämö Niinistö (; born 24 August 1948) is a Finnish politician who has served as president of Finland since March 2012, the 12th person to hold that office. A lawyer by education, Niinistö was Chairman of the National Coalition Pa ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Finland
Sanna Marin Sanna Mirella Marin (; born 16 November 1985) is a Finnish politician who has been serving as the Prime Minister of Finland since 2019. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP), she has been a Member of Parliament since 2015. ...

(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Finland
Antti Rinne Antti Juhani Rinne (; born 3 November 1962) is a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland from June to December 2019, and served as Leader of the Social Democratic Party between 2014 and 2020. Biography A lawyer by profession, ...

(2019) , {{flagdeco, Finland
Juha Sipilä Juha Petri Sipilä (; born 25 April 1961) is a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland from 2015 to 2019. A relative newcomer to politics, he has a successful background in business. He was the leader of the Centre Party fr ...

(2015–19) , {{flagdeco, Finland
Alexander Stubb Cai-Göran Alexander Stubb (born 1 April 1968) is a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland from 2014 to 2015. He rose to politics as a researcher specialized in the affairs of the European Union and was elected to the European ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Georgia
Salome Zourabichvili Salome Zourabichvili ( ka, სალომე ზურაბიშვილი, ; born 18 March 1952) is a Franco-Georgian political figure and former diplomat who currently serves as the fifth President of Georgia, in office since December 2018 ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, Georgia
Giorgi Margvelashvili Giorgi Margvelashvili ( ka, გიორგი მარგველაშვილი; born 4 September 1969) is a Georgian academic and politician who was the fourth President of Georgia, in office from 17 November 2013 to 16 December 2018. ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Georgia
Irakli Garibashvili Irakli Garibashvili ( ka, ირაკლი ღარიბაშვილი, also transliterated as Gharibashvili; born 28 June 1982) is a Georgian politician and a former business executive who serves as the prime minister of Georgia since 2 ...

(since 2021, 2013–15) , {{flagdeco, Georgia
Giorgi Gakharia Giorgi Zauris dze Gakharia ( ka, გიორგი ზაურის ძე გახარია; born 19 March 1975) is a Georgian politician who served as the 14th Prime Minister of Georgia from 8 September 2019 until his resignation on 18 ...

(2019–21) , {{flagdeco, Georgia
Mamuka Bakhtadze Mamuka Bakhtadze ( ka, მამუკა ბახტაძე; born 9 June 1982) is a Georgian politician who served as the country's Prime Minister from 20 June 2018 until 2 September 2019. Bakhtadze announced his official statement about resi ...

(2018–19) , {{flagdeco, Georgia
Giorgi Kvirikashvili Giorgi Kvirikashvili ( ka, გიორგი კვირიკაშვილი; born 20 July 1967) is a Georgian politician who was Prime Minister of Georgia from 30 December 2015 to 13 June 2018. Prior to that he was Minister of Economy and ...

(2015–18) , {{flagdeco, Latvia
Egils Levits Egils Levits (born 30 June 1955) is a Latvian politician, lawyer, political scientist and jurist who has served as the tenth president of Latvia since 8 July 2019. He was a member of the European Court of Justice from 2004 to 2019. During the la ...

(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Latvia
Raimonds Vējonis Raimonds Vējonis (born 15 June 1966) is a Latvian politician who served as the 9th President of Latvia from 2015 to 2019 and the president of the Latvian Basketball Association since 2020. He is a member of the Latvian Green Party, part of the ...

(2015–19) , {{flagdeco, Latvia Andris Bērziņš
(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Latvia Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš
(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Latvia
Māris Kučinskis Māris Kučinskis (born 28 November 1961) is a Latvian politician and former Prime Minister of Latvia. Early life and career Māris Kučinskis was born on 28 November 1961, in Limbaži District, Latvia, where he lived until the age of 16. Afte ...

(2016–19) , {{flagdeco, Latvia
Laimdota Straujuma Laimdota Straujuma (born 24 February 1951) is a Latvian economist who was the Prime Minister of Latvia from January 2014 to February 2016. Before her tenure as Prime Minister, she served as Minister of Agriculture from 2011 to 2014. She was the fi ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Luxembourg
Henri Henri is an Estonian, Finnish, French, German and Luxembourgish form of the masculine given name Henry. People with this given name ; French noblemen :'' See the ' List of rulers named Henry' for Kings of France named Henri.'' * Henri I de Mon ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Luxembourg
Xavier Bettel Xavier Bettel (; born 3 March 1973) is a Luxembourger lawyer and politician serving as Prime Minister of Luxembourg since 2013. He was previously a member of the Chamber of Deputies (1999–2013) and Mayor of Luxembourg City (2011–2013). Be ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Netherlands
Willem-Alexander Willem-Alexander (; Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born ) is King of the Netherlands, having acceded to the throne following his mother's abdication in 2013. Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht as the oldest child of Princess Bea ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Netherlands
Mark Rutte Mark Rutte (; born 14 February 1967) is a Dutch politician who has served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010 and Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) since 2006. After a business career working for Unileve ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Portugal
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa Marcelo Nuno Duarte Rebelo de Sousa (; born 12 December 1948) is a Portuguese politician and academic. He is the 20th and current president of Portugal, since 9 March 2016. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party, though he suspended hi ...

(since 2016) , {{flagdeco, Portugal
Aníbal Cavaco Silva Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, Order of Christ (Portugal), GCC, Order of Liberty, GColL, Order of Prince Henry, GColIH (; born 15 July 1939) is a Portuguese economist who served as the 19th president of Portugal, in office from 9 March 2006 to 9 ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Portugal
António Costa António Luís Santos da Costa GCIH (; born 17 July 1961) is a Portuguese lawyer and politician serving as the 119th and current prime minister of Portugal since 26 November 2015, presiding over the XXI (2015–2019), XXII (2019–2022) and ...

(since 2015) , {{flagdeco, Portugal Pedro Passos Coelho
(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Poland
Andrzej Duda Andrzej Sebastian Duda (; born 16 May 1972) is a Polish lawyer and politician who has served as president of Poland since 6 August 2015. Before becoming president, Andrzej Duda was a member of Polish Lower House (Sejm) from 2011 to 2014 and th ...

(since 2015) , {{flagdeco, Poland
Bronisław Komorowski Bronisław Maria Komorowski (; born 4 June 1952) is a Polish politician and historian who served as President of Poland from 2010 to 2015. Komorowski served as Minister of Defence from 2000 to 2001. As Marshal of the Sejm, Komorowski exercis ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Poland
Mateusz Morawiecki Mateusz Jakub Morawiecki (; born 20 June 1968) is a Polish economist, historian and politician who has served as prime minister of Poland since 2017. A member of Law and Justice (PiS), he previously served in the cabinet of prime minister Beata ...

(since 2017) , {{flagdeco, Poland
Beata Szydło Beata Maria Szydło (, née Kusińska , 15 April 1963) is a Polish politician who has served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2019. A member of Law and Justice (PiS), she previously served as Prime Minister of Poland from 2015 ...

(2015–17) , {{flagdeco, Poland
Ewa Kopacz Ewa Bożena Kopacz (; née Lis; born 3 December 1956) is a Polish politician who has served as a Vice-President of the European Parliament since 2019. She previously was Marshal of the Sejm from 2011 to 2014, the first woman to hold the office, as ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Romania
Klaus Iohannis Klaus Werner Iohannis (; ; also spelled Johannis; born 13 June 1959) is a Romanian politician, physicist and former teacher who has been serving as the president of Romania since 2014. He became leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) in 20 ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Romania
Nicolae Ciucă Nicolae Ionel Ciucă (; born 7 February 1967) is a Romanian politician and retired general of the Romanian Land Forces. Ideologically a conservative, he has been serving as Prime Minister of Romania since 25 November 2021 after receiving widespr ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Romania Florin Cîțu
(2020–21) , {{flagdeco, Romania
Ludovic Orban Ludovic Orban (; born 25 May 1963) is a Romanian engineer and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Romania from November 2019 to December 2020. He was president of the National Liberal Party (PNL) between 2017 and 2021, which expelled ...

(2019–20) , {{flagdeco, Romania Viorica Dăncilă
(2018–19) , {{flagdeco, Romania
Mihai Tudose Mihai Tudose (born 6 March 1967, in Brăila, Brăila County, Socialist Republic of Romania) is a Romanian politician, deputy in the Parliament of Romania, a former Minister of Economy in 2017 and a former Prime Minister of Romania in 2018. On ...

(2017–18) , {{flagdeco, Romania
Sorin Grindeanu Sorin Mihai Grindeanu (; born 5 December 1973) is a Romanian politician who served as Prime Minister of Romania from January to June 2017 when he was removed by a motion of no confidence adopted by the Parliament. He served as ad interim Presid ...

(2017) , {{flagdeco, Romania Dacian Cioloș
(2015–17) , {{flagdeco, Romania
Victor Ponta Victor Viorel Ponta (; born 20 September 1972) is a Romanian jurist and politician, who served as Prime Minister of Romania between his appointment by President Traian Băsescu in May 2012 and his resignation in November 2015. A former member of ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Spain
Felipe VI Felipe VI (;, * eu, Felipe VI.a, * ca, Felip VI, * gl, Filipe VI, . Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is King of Spain. He is the son of former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, an ...

(since 2014) , {{flagdeco, Spain
Pedro Sánchez Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón (; born 29 February 1972) is a Spanish politician who has been Prime Minister of Spain since June 2018. He has also been Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) since June 2017, having p ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, Spain
Mariano Rajoy Mariano Rajoy Brey (; born 27 March 1955) is a Spanish politician who served as Prime Minister of Spain from 2011 to 2018, when a vote of no confidence ousted his government. On 5 June 2018, he announced his resignation as People's Party le ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, Italy
Sergio Mattarella Sergio Mattarella (; born 23 July 1941) is an Italian politician, jurist, academic and lawyer who has served as the president of Italy since 2015. A Christian leftist politician, Mattarella was a leading member of the Christian Democracy par ...

(since 2015) , {{flagdeco, Italy
Giorgio Napolitano Giorgio Napolitano (; born 29 June 1925) is an Italian politician who served as president of Italy from 2006 to 2015, the first Italian president to be re-elected to the presidency. Due to his dominant position in Italian politics, some critics ...

(2014–15) , {{flagdeco, Italy
Giorgia Meloni Giorgia Meloni (; born 15 January 1977) is an Italian politician who has been serving as the Prime Minister of Italy since 22 October 2022, the first woman to hold this position. A member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2006, she has led the ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Italy
Mario Draghi Mario Draghi (; born 3 September 1947) is an Italian economist, academic, banker and civil servant who served as prime minister of Italy from February 2021 to October 2022. Prior to his appointment as prime minister, he served as President of ...

(2021–22) , {{flagdeco, Italy
Giuseppe Conte Giuseppe Conte (; born 8 August 1964) is an Italian jurist, academic, and politician who served as prime minister of Italy from June 2018 to February 2021. He has been the president of the Five Star Movement (M5S) since August 2021. Cont ...

(2018–21) , {{flagdeco, Italy
Paolo Gentiloni Paolo Gentiloni Silveri (; born 22 November 1954) is an Italian politician who has served as European Commissioner for Economy in the von der Leyen Commission since 1 December 2019. He previously served as prime minister of Italy from Decembe ...

(2016–18) , {{flagdeco, Italy Matteo Renzi
(2014–16) {{Collapsible list , bullets =yes , title = MICOPAX: , {{flagdeco, Angola
João Lourenço João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço (born 5 March 1954) is an Angolan politician, who has served as the president of Angola since 26 September 2017. Previously, he was Minister of Defence from 2014 to 2017. In September 2018, he became the Cha ...

(since 2017) , {{flagdeco, Angola
José Eduardo dos Santos José Eduardo dos Santos (; 28 August 1942 – 8 July 2022) was the president of Angola from 1979 to 2017. As president, dos Santos was also the commander-in-chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and president of the People's Movement for t ...

(2013–17) , {{flagdeco, Cameroon
Paul Biya Paul Biya (born Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo; 13 February 1933) is a Cameroonian politician who has served as the president of Cameroon since 6 November 1982.

(since 2013) , {{flagdeco, Cameroon
Joseph Ngute Joseph Dion Ngute (born 12 March 1954) is a Cameroonian politician currently serving as the 9th Prime Minister of Cameroon, following his appointment in January 2019. He succeeded Philémon Yang, who had held the post since 2009. Career Ngut ...

(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Cameroon
Philémon Yang Philémon Yunji Yang (born June 14, 1947Profile at Cameroonian ...

(2013–19) , {{flagdeco, Chad
Mahamat Déby Itno
(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Chad Idriss Déby{{KIA
(2013–16, 2016–21) , {{flagdeco, Chad
Albert Pahimi Padacké Albert Pahimi Padacké ( ar, ألبر بهيمي بدكي, born 15 November 1966) is a Chadian politician who was Prime Minister of Chad from 26 April 2021 to 12 October 2022. He was also Prime Minister from 2016 to 2018, when he resigned and was ...

(since 2021, 2016–18) , {{flagdeco, Chad
Kalzeubet Pahimi Deubet Kalzeubet Pahimi Deubet (born 1 January 1957) is a Chadian businessman and politician who was Prime Minister of Chad from November 2013 to February 2016. Early life and career Deubet was the head of the state-owned cotton parastatal. Politics ...

(2013–16) , {{flagdeco, Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso
(since 2013) , {{flagdeco, Republic of the Congo
Anatole Collinet Makosso Anatole Collinet Makosso (born 1965) has served as the prime minister of the Republic of the Congo since 2021. He has also served in the government of Congo-Brazzaville as Minister of Primary and Secondary Education from 2015 to 2021, and as the M ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Republic of the Congo
Clément Mouamba Clément Mouamba (13 November 1943 – 29 October 2021) was a Congolese politician who was Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo from 2016 until 2021. He previously served as Minister of Finance from 1992 to 1993. Political career Mouamb ...

(2016–21) , {{flagdeco, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Félix Tshisekedi Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo (; born 13 June 1963) is a Congolese politician who has been the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 24 January 2019. He is the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) ...

(since 2019) , {{flagdeco, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Joseph Kabila Joseph Kabila Kabange ( , ; born 4 June 1971) is a Congolese politician who served as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between January 2001 and January 2019. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, Pres ...

(2013–19) , {{flagdeco, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge (born 4 August 1977) is a Congolese politician from the former Katanga Province who has occupied the role of Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 15 February 2021. He was named the day of t ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sylvestre Ilunga Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba (born 1947, Katanga Province, Belgian Congo) is a Congolese politician who was appointed as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 2019, formally establishing his government in August 2019. ...

(2019–21) , {{flagdeco, Democratic Republic of the Congo Bruno Tshibala
(2017–19) , {{flagdeco, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Samy Badibanga Samy Badibanga Ntita (born 12 September 1962) is a Congolese politician who was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from November 2016 to May 2017. He was also on the ballot for the 2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo gener ...

(2016–17) , {{flagdeco, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Matata Ponyo Mapon Matata Ponyo Mapon (born 5 June 1964) is a Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congolese political figure who was Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 18 April 2012 to 17 November 2016. Previously he served as Minister of Fina ...

(2013–16) , {{flagdeco, Gabon
Ali Bongo Ondimba Ali Bongo Ondimba (born Alain Bernard Bongo; 9 February 1959),"Bongo Ali", ''Gabon: Les hommes de pouvoir'', number 4Africa Intelligence 5 March 2002 . sometimes known as Ali Bongo, is a Gabonese politician who has been the third president of ...

(since 2013) , {{flagdeco, Gabon
Rose Christiane Raponda Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (born 1964) is a Gabonese politician who is serving as Prime Minister of Gabon since 16 July 2020, making her the first female prime minister of the country. She previously served as the Mayor of Libreville and ...

(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Gabon
Julien Nkoghe Bekale Julien Nkoghe Bekale is a Gabonese politician who served as the prime minister of Gabon from 2019 to 2020. In the aftermath of the 2019 Gabonese coup d'état attempt, he was appointed prime minister by president Ali Bongo Ondimba on 12 January 201 ...

(2019–20) , {{flagdeco, Gabon
Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet Franck Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet (2 April 1961"Gabon : Emmanu ...

(2016–19) , {{flagdeco, Gabon
Daniel Ona Ondo Daniel Ona Ondo (born 10 July 1945) is a Gabonese politician who was Prime Minister of Gabon from January 2014 to September 2016. He previously served as Minister of Education and First Vice-President of the National Assembly. He is a member of th ...

(2014–16) , {{flagdeco, Gabon
Raymond Ndong Sima Raymond Ndong Sima (born 23 January 1955"Raymond Ndong Sima : un homme d'action"

(2013–14) , {{flagdeco, Burundi
Évariste Ndayishimiye General Évariste Ndayishimiye (born 1968) is a Burundian politician who has served as President of Burundi since 18 June 2020. He became involved in the rebel National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democrac ...

(since 2020) , {{flagdeco, Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza
(2013–20) , {{flagdeco, Burundi
Gervais Ndirakobuca Gervais Ndirakobuca (born 1970) is a Burundian former rebel commander and police commissioner serving as the Prime Minister of Burundi since 7 September 2022. Prior to that, he was the Minister of Interior, Public Security, and Community Develo ...

(since 2022) , {{flagdeco, Burundi
Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni (born 23 April 1972) is a Burundian politician who was Prime Minister of Burundi from 23 June 2020 to 7 September 2022. Before that, from 2015 until 2020, he served as Minister of Internal Security in the Cabinet of Bur ...

(2020–22) , {{flagdeco, São Tomé and Príncipe
Carlos Vila Nova Carlos Manuel Vila Nova (born 27 July 1959) is a São Toméan politician who is the fifth and current president of São Tomé and Príncipe, since 2 October 2021. He served as the minister of Public Works and Natural Resources (2010–2012) and ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, São Tomé and Príncipe
Evaristo Carvalho Evaristo do Espírito Santo Carvalho (22 October 1941 – 28 May 2022) was a São Toméan politician who served as the fourth president of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2016 to 2021. He was previously the prime minister of the country on two ...

(2016–21) , {{flagdeco, São Tomé and Príncipe
Manuel Pinto da Costa Manuel Pinto da Costa (born 5 August 1937) is a Santomean economist and politician who served as the first president of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1975 to 1991. He again served as president from 2011 to 2016. Life and career Educated in Ea ...

(2013–16) , {{flagdeco, São Tomé and Príncipe
Jorge Bom Jesus Jorge Lopes Bom Jesus (born 26 July 1962), also known as JBJ, is a Santomean linguist and politician who was the 17th Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from 3 December 2018 to 10 November 2022. He is a member of the Movement for the Li ...

(since 2018) , {{flagdeco, São Tomé and Príncipe
Patrice Trovoada Patrice Émery Trovoada (born 18 March 1962) is a São Toméan politician who is the 15th prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe since November 2022. He previously served as Prime Minister from February 2008 to June 2008, from August 2010 to ...

(2014–18) , {{flagdeco, São Tomé and Príncipe Gabriel Costa
(2013–14)) , {{flagdeco, Equatorial Guinea
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (; born 5 June 1942) is an Equatoguinean politician and former military officer who has served as the second president of Equatorial Guinea since August 1979. He is the longest-serving president of any country ev ...

(since 2013) , {{flagdeco, Equatorial Guinea
Francisco Pascual Obama Asue Francisco Pascual Eyegue Obama Asue is an Equatoguinean politician who has been Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea since 23 June 2016. Prior to holding this position, he was the Minister of Health and Social Welfare and also the Minister of Tr ...

(since 2016) , {{flagdeco, Equatorial Guinea Vicente Ehate Tomi
(2013–16) , {{flagdeco, Morocco
Mohammed VI Muhammad VI may refer to: * Muhammad Imaaduddeen VI (1868–1932), sultan of the Maldives from 1893 to 1902 * Mehmed VI (1861–1926), sultan of Ottoman Empire, from 1918 to 1922 * Mohammed VI of Morocco (born 1963), King of Morocco since 19 ...

(since 2013) , {{flagdeco, Morocco
Aziz Akhannouch Aziz Akhannouch (; ; born 1961) is a Moroccan politician, businessman, and billionaire who is currently the Prime Minister of Morocco since his government took office on 7 October 2021. He is the CEO of Akwa Group and also served as Minister of A ...

(since 2021) , {{flagdeco, Morocco
Saadeddine Othmani Saadeddine Othmani ( ber, ⵙⴰⵄⴷ ⴷⴷⵉⵏ ⵍⵄⵓⵜⵎⴰⵏⵉ; ar, سعد الدين العثماني; born 16 January 1956), sometimes translated as Saad Eddine el-Othmani, is a Moroccan politician. He served as the 16th prime mi ...

(2017–21) , {{flagdeco, Morocco
Abdelilah Benkirane Abdelilah Benkirane ( ar, عبد الإله بنكيران, born 2 April 1954) is a Moroccan politician who was Prime Minister of Morocco from November 2011 to March 2017. After having won a plurality of seats in the 2011 parliamentary election ...

(2013–17) , commander2 = {{flagdeco, Central African Republic
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
(since 2020)
{{flagicon image, Flag of Dar El Kuti Republic.svg Noureddine Adam (FPRC)
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic
Ali Darassa Ali Darassa Mahamat (born 22 September 1978), also known as Ali Nassaraza Darassa, Ali Daras, and Ali Ndarass is a Nigerian leader of the Central African rebel group, the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), which is dominant ...
(UPC)
{{flagicon image, Flag of Dar El Kuti Republic.svg Mahamat al-Khatim (MPC)
{{flagicon image, Flag of Lord's Resistance Army.svg
Joseph Kony Joseph Rao Kony (likely born 1961) is a Ugandan militant who founded the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a Christian fundamentalist organization, designated as a terrorist group by the United Nations Peacekeepers, the European Union and variou ...
(LRA)
Former commanders:
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic
Damane Zakaria Damane Zakaria was a Central African warlord, leader of Patriotic Rally for the Renewal of the Central African Republic armed group. Biography He was born as Moustapha Maloum in Boromata in Vakaga prefecture. He belonged to Goula ethnic group ...
(RPRC){{KIA
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic
Michel Djotodia Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia (born c. 1949) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014. He was the first Muslim to hold that office in the predominantly Christian country. Djotodia was a l ...
{{Surrendered (2013–2014)
{{flagicon image, Flag of Dar El Kuti Republic.svg
Joseph Zoundeiko General Joseph Zoundeiko (or Zindeko) (died 11 February 2017) was the leader of military wing of the Central African rebel militia alliance, Séléka. Born in Tiringoulou, Vakaga, he worked as a guard and tracker, securing parklands on the nor ...
{{KIA{{cite news, date=29 July 2014, title=CAR crisis: Meeting the rebel army chief, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28526362, newspaper=BBC News, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928164704/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28526362, archive-date=28 September 2018, url-status=live
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic Sidiki Abass (3R){{KIA
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic Maxime Mokom (AB) {{Surrendered
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic Dieudonné Ndomaté (AB) {{Surrendered
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic Patrice Edouard Ngaissona (AB) {{Surrendered
{{flagdeco, Central African Republic Toumou Deya Gilbert (MLCJ) {{surrendered ''See full list: List of warlords in the Central African Republic'' , strength1 = {{flagdeco, Central African Republic 11,000 (2022)
{{flagdeco, United Nations
MINUSCA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA, which is an initialism of its French name Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en Ce ...
: 15,760 (2022){{Cite web, url=https://minusca.unmissions.org/en/facts-and-figures, title=Facts and Figures, date=22 April 2015, website=MINUSCA
{{flagdeco, Russia Wagner Group: 1,200 (2022)
Formerly: {{flagdeco, France 2,000
{{flagdeco, South Africa 200{{cite web, url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/zille-warns-of-car-scandal-1.1494128#.UnfTx_nIvyA, title=Zille warns of 'CAR scandal', access-date=4 November 2013, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210234138/http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/zille-warns-of-car-scandal-1.1494128#.UnfTx_nIvyA, archive-date=10 December 2013, url-status=live
ECCAS The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
: 3,500+ peacekeepers{{cite web, title=More military help sought by UN to protect CAR civilians, url=http://www.theafricanews.net/index.php/sid/220190359/scat/c1ab2109a5bf37ec/ht/More-military-help-sought-by-UN-to-protect-CAR-civilians, access-date=22 February 2014, publisher=The Africa News.Net, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709140952/http://www.theafricanews.net/index.php/sid/220190359/scat/c1ab2109a5bf37ec/ht/More-military-help-sought-by-UN-to-protect-CAR-civilians, archive-date=9 July 2014, url-status=dead , strength2 = 20,000+ (''self-claim'', 2022)
3,000 (''Séléka claim'', 2015)
1,000–2,000 (''other estimates'', 2014)"Seleka, Central Africa's motley rebel coalition"
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913065755/http://www.rnw.nl/africa/bulletin/seleka-central-africas-motley-rebel-coalition , date=13 September 2014 , Radio Netherlands Worldwide
, casualties1 = {{flagdeco, Central African Republic Unknown
{{flagdeco, United Nations 147 killed
{{flagdeco, South Africa 15 soldiers killed
{{flagdeco, France 3 soldiers killed , casualties2 = 500+ rebel casualties (Bangui only, South African claim) , notes =
Civilian casualties:
Unknown number killed or wounded
200,000 internally displaced; 20,000 refugees (1 Aug 2013)
700,000 internally displaced; +288,000 refugees (Feb 2014){{cite book, last1=Casey-Maslen, first1=Stuart, title=The War Report: Armed Conflict in 2013, date=2014, publisher=Oxford University Press, isbn=978-0-19-103764-1, page=411
Total: Thousands killed
13,594+ killed (Oct 2022)
, campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Central African Republic Civil War {{History of the Central African Republic, expanded=all The Central African Republic Civil War is an ongoing civil war in the
Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...
(CAR) involving the government, rebels from the
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
coalition, and
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
militias.
Uppsala Conflict Data Program The Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) is a data collection program on organized violence, based at Uppsala University in Sweden. The UCDP is a leading provider of data on organized violence and armed conflict, and it is the oldest ongoing data ...
Conflict Encyclopedia,
Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...
, In depth: The Seleka Rebellion, viewed 16 May 2013, http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=31®ionSelect=2-Southern_Africa# {{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212110026/http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=31®ionSelect=2-Southern_Africa , date=12 December 2013
In the preceding
Central African Republic Bush War The Central African Republic Bush War was a civil war in the Central African Republic between Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebels and government forces. The rebellion began after François Bozizé seized the nation's preside ...
(2004–2007), the government of President
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
fought with rebels until a peace agreement in 2007. The current conflict arose when a new coalition of varied rebel groups, known as ''{{lang, sg, Séléka'', accused the government of failing to abide by the peace agreements, captured many towns in 2012 and seized the capital in 2013. Bozizé fled the country, and the rebel leader
Michel Djotodia Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia (born c. 1949) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014. He was the first Muslim to hold that office in the predominantly Christian country. Djotodia was a l ...
declared himself President. Renewed fighting began between Séléka and militias opposed to them called
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
. In September 2013, President Djotodia disbanded the ''Séléka'' coalition, which had lost its unity after taking power, and resigned in 2014.{{cite news , url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrican-djotodia-idUSBREA090GT20140110 , title=Central African Republic president, PM resign at summit: statement , work=Reuters , access-date=10 January 2014 , date=10 January 2014 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013022708/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/10/us-centralafrican-djotodia-idUSBREA090GT20140110 , archive-date=13 October 2015 , url-status=live {{cite web, url=http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20140110-car-president-djotodia-and-pm-tiangaye-resign, title=CAR president Djotodia and PM Tiangaye resign, publisher=Radio France Internationale, date=10 January 2014, access-date=13 January 2014, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111221956/http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20140110-car-president-djotodia-and-pm-tiangaye-resign, archive-date=11 January 2014, url-status=live He was replaced by
Catherine Samba-Panza Catherine Samba-Panza (born 26 June 1954) is a Central African lawyer and politician who served as interim President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She was the first woman to hold the post of head of state in that country, as ...
, but the conflict continued.{{cite web, url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/01/new-car-pm-says-ending-atrocities-priority-2014126124325498176.html, title=New CAR PM says ending atrocities is priority, publisher=Al Jazeera, access-date=28 January 2014, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205224521/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/01/new-car-pm-says-ending-atrocities-priority-2014126124325498176.html, archive-date=5 February 2015, url-status=live In July 2014, ex-Séléka factions and Anti-balaka representatives signed a ceasefire agreement. By the end of 2014, the country was de facto partitioned with the Anti-Balaka controlling the south and west, from which most
Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
had evacuated, and ex-Séléka groups controlling the north and east.{{cite web, url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/28/one-day-we-will-start-a-big-war-central-african-republic-un-violence/, title=One day we will start a big war, work=Foreign Policy, access-date=13 February 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205203123/http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/28/one-day-we-will-start-a-big-war-central-african-republic-un-violence/, archive-date=5 February 2017, url-status=live
Faustin-Archange Touadéra Faustin-Archange Touadéra (; born 21 April 1957) is a Central African politician and academic who has been President of the Central African Republic since March 2016. He previously was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from Janua ...
, who was elected President in 2016, ran and won the 2020 election, that triggered the main rebel factions to form an alliance opposed to the election called the
Coalition of Patriots for Change The Coalition of Patriots for Change (''Coalition des patriotes pour le changement'') is a coalition of major rebel groups in the Central African Republic created in 2020 to disrupt the 2020–21 Central African general election. Background O ...
, which was coordinated by former President Bozizé. Peacekeeping largely transitioned from the
ECCAS The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
led MICOPAX to the
African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...
led
MISCA The African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (french: Mission internationale de soutien à la Centrafrique sous conduite africaine, MISCA) is an African Union peacekeeping mission to the Central African Republic ...
to the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...
led
MINUSCA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA, which is an initialism of its French name Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en Ce ...
, while the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
peacekeeping mission was known as Operation Sangaris. Much of the tension is over religious identity between
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
fighters and
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
, 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.{{cite web, url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2016/07/displaced-forgotten-central-african-republic-160717113644108.html, title=Displaced and forgotten in Central African Republic, publisher=Al Jazeera, access-date=14 February 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215121142/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2016/07/displaced-forgotten-central-african-republic-160717113644108.html, archive-date=15 February 2017, url-status=live 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 Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
,
Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
and
Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
and international powers such as
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
. 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.{{cite news, url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-22/blast-at-concert-shows-central-african-republic-s-religious-rift, title=Concert Blast Shows Central African Republic Religious Rift, publisher=Bloomberg, access-date=26 November 2017, date=21 November 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030757/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-22/blast-at-concert-shows-central-african-republic-s-religious-rift, archive-date=1 December 2017, url-status=live


Background

{{Main, Central African Republic Bush War The peacekeeping force Multinational Force in the Central African Republic (FOMUC) was formed in October 2002 by the regional economic community Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC).{{cite web, title=HISTORIQUE DE L'OPÉRATION MICOPAX, url=http://www.operationspaix.net/77-historique-micopax.html, access-date=22 February 2017, publisher=RÉSEAU DE RECHERCHE SUR LES OPÉRATIONS DE PAIX, date=1 February 2012, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508222935/http://www.operationspaix.net/77-historique-micopax.html, archive-date=8 May 2017, url-status=live{{cite web , title= Central African Republic , url= http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-99_en.htm , access-date= 22 February 2017 , publisher= European Commission , date= 10 February 2014 , archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170223130404/http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-99_en.htm , archive-date= 23 February 2017 , url-status= live , df= dmy-all After
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
seized power in 2003, the
Central African Republic Bush War The Central African Republic Bush War was a civil war in the Central African Republic between Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebels and government forces. The rebellion began after François Bozizé seized the nation's preside ...
(2004–2007) began with the rebellion by the
Union of Democratic Forces for Unity Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (french: Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement, UFDR) was a rebel group which fought against the government in the Central African Republic Bush War. The Central African Republic has accused t ...
(UFDR) in northeastern CAR, led by
Michel Djotodia Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia (born c. 1949) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014. He was the first Muslim to hold that office in the predominantly Christian country. Djotodia was a l ...
. During this conflict, the UFDR rebel forces also fought with several other rebel groups including the
Group of Patriotic Action for the Liberation of Central Africa A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic id ...
(GAPLC), the
Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace The Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) is a rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR), which was involved in fighting in the Central African Republic Bush War starting in 2004. On June 12, 2011, the CPJP signed a ceasefire ...
(CPJP), the People's Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD), the
Movement of Central African Liberators for Justice Movement may refer to: Common uses * Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece * Motion, commonly referred to as movement Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * "Movement" (short story), a short story by Nancy Fu ...
(MLCJ), and the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC). Tens of thousands of people were displaced by the unrest, which continued until 2007, with rebel forces seizing several cities during the conflict.{{citation needed, date=June 2021 On 13 April 2007, a peace agreement between the government and the UFDR was signed in
Birao Birao is the capital of Vakaga, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic and was an administrative post in the colony of Ubangui-Shari. In March 2007, the town was almost completely burnt down in the fighting between rebels a ...
. The agreement provided for an amnesty for the UFDR, its recognition as a political party, and the integration of its fighters into the army. Further negotiations resulted in a
Libreville Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Occupying in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea. As of the 2013 census, its population was 703,904. The area has been in ...
Global Peace Accord agreement in 2008 for reconciliation, a unity government, local elections in 2009 and parliamentary and presidential elections in 2010. The new unity government that resulted was formed in January 2009. On 12 July 2008, with the waning of the
Central African Republic Bush War The Central African Republic Bush War was a civil war in the Central African Republic between Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebels and government forces. The rebellion began after François Bozizé seized the nation's preside ...
, the larger overlapping regional economic community to CEMAC called the
Economic Community of Central African States The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
(ECCAS), replaced FOMUC, whose mandate was largely restricted to security, with the Central African Peacebuilding Mission (MICOPAX), who had a broader peace building mandate. Rebel groups alleged that Bozizé had not followed the terms of the 2007 agreement and that there continued to be political abuses, especially in the northern part of the country, such as "torture and illegal executions".{{cite news, url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/world/africa/rebels-agree-to-cease-fire-in-central-african-republic.html, title=Rebel Coalition in the Central African Republic Agrees to a Short Cease-Fire, last=Sayare, first=Scott, date=11 January 2013, work=The New York Times, access-date=12 January 2013, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329221513/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/world/africa/rebels-agree-to-cease-fire-in-central-african-republic.html?_r=0, archive-date=29 March 2014, url-status=live


Course of the conflict

{{See also, Timeline of the Central African Republic Civil War


Toppling Bozizé (2012–2013)


Formation of Séléka

In August 2012 a peace agreement was signed between the government and the
CPJP The Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) is a rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR), which was involved in fighting in the Central African Republic Bush War starting in 2004. On June 12, 2011, the CPJP signed a ceasefire ...
. On 20 August 2012, an agreement was signed between a dissident faction of the CPJP, led by Colonel
Hassan Al Habib Hassan Al Habib, also known by the aliases Wata and HA, was a spokesman for a faction of the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace The Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) is a rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR), ...
calling itself Fundamental CPJP, and the Patriotic Convention for Saving the Country (CPSK). Al Habib announced that, in protest of the peace agreement, the Fundamental CPJP was launching an offensive dubbed "Operation
Charles Massi Charles Massi (25 July 1952
.
– 8 January 2010) was a Bozizé. In September, Fundamental CPJP, using the French name ''Alliance CPSK-CPJP,'' took responsibility for attacks on the towns of
Sibut Sibut (), formerly Fort Sibut (french: Fort-Sibut) is the capital of Kémo, one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. An important transport hub, it is situated north of the capital Bangui and is known for its market. Sibut is ...
, Damara and
Dekoa Dekoa (Dékoua) is a sub-prefecture and town in the Kémo Prefecture of the south-eastern Central African Republic. History In the nineteenth century freebooter Rabih az-Zubayr brought Dekoa under his sway and made it a part of the Bornu Empire. ...
, killing two members of the army. It claimed that it had killed two additional members of the
Central African Armed Forces The Central African Armed Forces (french: Forces armées centrafricaines; FACA) are the armed forces of the Central African Republic and have been barely functional since the outbreak of the civil war in 2012. Today they are among the world's we ...
(FACA) in Damara, capturing military and civilian vehicles, weapons including rockets, and communications equipment, and launched unsuccessful assault on a fourth town,
Grimari Grimari is a city located in the Ouaka prefecture in Central African Republic, approximately away from the capital, Bangui. The politician Abel Goumba was born in Grimari. History On March 1, 1910, Grimari replaced Pouyamba as the capital of ...
, and promised more operations in the future. Mahamath Isseine Abdoulaye, president of the pro-government CPJP faction, countered that the CPJP was committed to the peace agreement and the attacks were the work of
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
ian rebels, saying this group of "thieves" would never be able to march on
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
. Al Habib was killed by FACA on 19 September in Daya, a town north of
Dekoa Dekoa (Dékoua) is a sub-prefecture and town in the Kémo Prefecture of the south-eastern Central African Republic. History In the nineteenth century freebooter Rabih az-Zubayr brought Dekoa under his sway and made it a part of the Bornu Empire. ...
. In November 2012, in Obo, FACA soldiers were injured in an attack attributed to Chadian
Popular Front for Recovery The Popular Front for Recovery (french: Front Populaire pour le Redressement; FPR) was a militia from Chad. It destabilized northern Central African Republic from 2008 to 2012. The leader of the FPR was General Abdel Kader Baba-Laddé. Histor ...
rebels. On 10 December 2012, the rebels seized the towns of
N'Délé N'Délé or Ndele is a market town and sub prefecture in the north eastern Central African Republic, lying east of the Bamingui-Bangoran National Park. Ndélé is the capital of Bamingui-Bangoran, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African ...
,
Sam Ouandja Sam Ouandja is a town located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Haute-Kotto near the border with Sudan. It has historically served as important arms trafficking hub for armed groups in Central African Republic. Artisanal diamond min ...
and
Ouadda Ouadda is a town located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Haute-Kotto. History On 10 December 2012, the rebels from Séléka seized Ouadda, as well as weapons left by fleeing soldiers. In 2021 Ouadda was under control of ex-Sélék ...
, as well as weapons left by fleeing soldiers. On 15 December, rebel forces took Bamingui, and three days later they advanced to Bria, moving closer to
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
. The ''Alliance CPSK-CPJP'' for the first time used the name
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
(meaning "union" in the Sango language) with a press release calling itself "Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR", thus including the
Union of Democratic Forces for Unity Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (french: Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement, UFDR) was a rebel group which fought against the government in the Central African Republic Bush War. The Central African Republic has accused t ...
(UFDR). The ''Séléka'' claim they are fighting because of a lack of progress after a peace deal ended the Bush War. Following an appeal for help from Central African President
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
, the
President of Chad This is a list of heads of state of Chad since the country gained independence from France in 1960 to the present day. A total of six people have served as head of state of Chad (not counting two Interim Heads of State). Additionally, one pers ...
, Idriss Déby, pledged to send 2,000 troops to help quell the rebellion. The first
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
ian troops arrived on 18 December 2012 to reinforce the CAR contingent in
Kaga-Bandoro Kaga-Bandoro is a market town and capital of the Nana-Grébizi prefecture of the Central African Republic. It represents the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaga–Bandoro. History On 25 December 2012 rebels from Séléka coalition took ...
, in preparation for a counter-attack on
N'Délé N'Délé or Ndele is a market town and sub prefecture in the north eastern Central African Republic, lying east of the Bamingui-Bangoran National Park. Ndélé is the capital of Bamingui-Bangoran, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African ...
. ''Séléka'' forces took Kabo on 19 December, a major hub for transport between Chad and CAR, located west and north of the areas previously taken by the rebels. On 18 December 2012, the Chadian group
Popular Front for Recovery The Popular Front for Recovery (french: Front Populaire pour le Redressement; FPR) was a militia from Chad. It destabilized northern Central African Republic from 2008 to 2012. The leader of the FPR was General Abdel Kader Baba-Laddé. Histor ...
(FPR) announced their allegiance to the Séléka coalition. On 20 December 2012, a rebel group based in northern CAR, the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC) joined the Séléka coalition. Four days later the rebel coalition took over
Bambari Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It has a population of 41,356 (2003 census) and is the capital of Ouaka prefecture. Bambari is an important market town and is home to Bambari Airport, and the R ...
, the country's third largest town, followed by
Kaga-Bandoro Kaga-Bandoro is a market town and capital of the Nana-Grébizi prefecture of the Central African Republic. It represents the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaga–Bandoro. History On 25 December 2012 rebels from Séléka coalition took ...
on 25 December. Rebel forces reached Damara, bypassing the town of
Sibut Sibut (), formerly Fort Sibut (french: Fort-Sibut) is the capital of Kémo, one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. An important transport hub, it is situated north of the capital Bangui and is known for its market. Sibut is ...
where around 150 Chadian troops were stationed together with CAR troops that withdrew from Kaga-Bandoro. On 26 December, hundreds of protesters surrounded the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
embassy accusing the former colonial power of failing to help the army. Josué Binoua, the CAR's minister for territorial administration, requested that France intervenes in case the rebels, now only {{convert, 75, km, mi, abbr=on away, manage to reach the capital
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
.{{cite news , first=Paul-Marin , last=Ngoupana , url=http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCABRE8BP09X20121226 , title=Central African Republic wants French help as rebels close in on capital , work=Reuters , date=26 December 2012 , access-date=26 December 2012 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128191802/http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCABRE8BP09X20121226 , archive-date=28 January 2013 , url-status=live On 27 December, Bozizé asked the international community for assistance. French President
François Hollande François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. He previously was First Secretary of the Socialist Party (France), First Secretary of the Socialist P ...
rejected the appeal, saying that French troops would only be used to protect French nationals in CAR, and not to defend Bozizé's government. Reports indicated that the
U.S The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. military was preparing plans to evacuate "several hundred" American citizens, as well as other nationals.
Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
ese General Jean-Félix Akaga, commander of the
Economic Community of Central African States The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
' (ECCAS) Multinational Force of Central Africa (FOMAC), said the capital was "fully secured" by the troops from its
MICOPAX The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
peacekeeping mission, adding that reinforcements should arrive soon. However, military sources in
Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
and
Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the ...
denied the report, claiming no decision had been taken regarding the crisis. Government soldiers launched a counterattack against rebel forces in
Bambari Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It has a population of 41,356 (2003 census) and is the capital of Ouaka prefecture. Bambari is an important market town and is home to Bambari Airport, and the R ...
on 28 December, leading to heavy clashes, according to a government official. Several witnesses over {{convert, 60, km, mi, abbr=on away said they could hear detonations and heavy weapons fire for a number of hours. Later, both a rebel leader and a military source confirmed the military attack was repelled and the town remained under rebel control. At least one rebel fighter was killed and three were wounded in the clashes, and the military's casualties were unknown. Meanwhile, the foreign ministers in the
ECCAS The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
announced that more troops from the Multinational Force for Central Africa (FOMAC) would be sent to the country to support the 560 members of the MICOPAX mission already present. The announcement was done by
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
's Foreign Minister
Moussa Faki Moussa Faki Mahamat ( ar, موسى فكي محمد ', born 21 June 1960) is a Chadian politician and diplomat who has been the elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission since 14 March 2017. Previously he was Prime Minister of Chad from ...
after a meeting in the
Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
ese capital
Libreville Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Occupying in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea. As of the 2013 census, its population was 703,904. The area has been in ...
. At the same time, ECCAS Deputy Secretary-General Guy-Pierre Garcia confirmed that the rebels and the CAR government had agreed to unconditional talks, with the goal to get to negotiations by 10 January at the latest. In
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
, the
U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
evacuated around 40 people from the country, including the American ambassador. The
International Committee of the Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC; french: Comité international de la Croix-Rouge) is a humanitarian organization which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and it is also a three-time Nobel Prize Laureate. State parties (signato ...
also evacuated eight of its foreign workers, though local volunteers and 14 other foreigners remained to help the growing number of displaced people. Rebel forces took over the town of
Sibut Sibut (), formerly Fort Sibut (french: Fort-Sibut) is the capital of Kémo, one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. An important transport hub, it is situated north of the capital Bangui and is known for its market. Sibut is ...
without firing a shot on 29 December, as at least 60 vehicles with CAR and
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
ian troops retreated to Damara, the last city standing between
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
and the capital. In
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
, the government ordered a 7 pm to 5 am
curfew A curfew is a government order specifying a time during which certain regulations apply. Typically, curfews order all people affected by them to ''not'' be in public places or on roads within a certain time frame, typically in the evening and ...
and banned the use of
motorcycle taxi A motorcycle taxi, or cart bike or bike taxi, is a licensed form of transport in some countries. The taxi typically carries one passenger, who "rides pillion" behind the motorcycle operator. Multiple passengers are common in some countries. Bra ...
s, fearing they could be used by rebels to infiltrate the city. Residents reported many shop-owners had hired groups of armed men to guard their property in anticipation of possible looting, as thousands were leaving the city in overloaded cars and boats. The
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
military contingent rose to 400 with the deployment of 150 additional
paratroopers A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during Worl ...
sent from
Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
to
Bangui M'Poko International Airport Bangui M'Poko International Airport is an international airport located northwest of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. In 2004, the airport served 53,862 passengers. In 2012, the airport had an average attendance of about 120,0 ...
. French Prime Minister
Jean-Marc Ayrault Jean-Marc Ayrault (; born 25 January 1950) is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 15 May 2012 to 31 March 2014. He later was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2017. He previously was Mayor of Nantes from 1989 t ...
again stressed that the troops were only present to "protect French and European nationals" and not deal with the rebels.


Foreign troops and ceasefire agreement

On 30 December, President Bozizé agreed to a possible national unity government with members of the
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
coalition.Central African Republic president says ready to share power with rebels
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172818/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/30/us-car-rebels-idUSBRE8BT03M20121230 , date=24 September 2015 . Reuters (30 December 2012).
On 2 January 2013, the president took over as the new head of the defense ministry from his son and dismissed army chief
Guillaume Lapo Guillaume may refer to: People * Guillaume (given name), the French equivalent of William * Guillaume (surname) Other uses * Guillaume (crater) See also * '' Chanson de Guillaume'', an 11th or 12th century poem * Guillaume affair, a Cold War ...
. Meanwhile, rebel spokesman Col. Djouma Narkoyo confirmed that ''Séléka'' had stopped their advance and will enter peace talks due to start in
Libreville Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Occupying in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea. As of the 2013 census, its population was 703,904. The area has been in ...
on 8 January, on the precondition that government forces stop arresting members of the Gula tribe. The rebel coalition confirmed it would demand the immediate departure of President Bozizé, who had pledged to see out his term until its end in 2016. By 1 January reinforcements from FOMAC began to arrive in Damara to support the 400
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
ian troops already stationed there as part of the MICOPAX mission. With rebels closing in on the capital
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
, a total of 360 soldiers were sent to boost the defenses of Damara –
Angola , national_anthem = "Angola Avante"() , image_map = , map_caption = , capital = Luanda , religion = , religion_year = 2020 , religion_ref = , coordinat ...
,
Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
, 120 each from
Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
,
Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...
and
Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the ...
, with a Gabonese general in command of the force.{{cite news , url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/world/africa/central-africa-on-the-brink-rebels-halt-their-advance.html , title=Central Africa on the Brink, Rebels Halt Their Advance , newspaper=
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
, date=2 January 2013 , first=Scott , last=Sayare , access-date=26 February 2017 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506002828/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/world/africa/central-africa-on-the-brink-rebels-halt-their-advance.html , archive-date=6 May 2017 , url-status=live
Jean-Félix Akaga, the Gabonese general in charge of the
MICOPAX The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
force, sent by the
ECCAS The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
, declared that Damara represented a "red line that the rebels cannot cross", and that doing so would be "a declaration of war" against the 10 members of the regional bloc.
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
had further boosted its presence in the country to 600 troops. On 6 January,
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
n President
Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...
announced the deployment of 400 troops to CAR to assist the forces already present there.{{cite news , url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/01/201316201622291808.html , title=South Africa to send 400 soldiers to CAR , publisher=
Al Jazeera Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazee ...
, date=6 January 2013 , access-date=6 January 2013 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109023716/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/01/201316201622291808.html , archive-date=9 January 2013 , url-status=live
On 11 January 2013, a ceasefire agreement was signed in
Libreville Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Occupying in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea. As of the 2013 census, its population was 703,904. The area has been in ...
,
Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
.{{citation needed, date=July 2021 On 13 January, Bozizé signed a decree that removed Prime Minister
Faustin-Archange Touadéra Faustin-Archange Touadéra (; born 21 April 1957) is a Central African politician and academic who has been President of the Central African Republic since March 2016. He previously was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from Janua ...
from power, as part of the agreement with the rebel coalition.{{cite news, url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/prime-minister-booted-from-job-in-central-african-republic-part-of-peace-deal-with-rebels/2013/01/13/bcebaf14-5dcf-11e2-8acb-ab5cb77e95c8_print.html, title=Prime minister booted from job in Central African Republic, part of peace deal with rebels, date=13 January 2013, newspaper=The Washington Post, access-date=15 January 2013{{dead link, date=June 2021, bot=medic{{cbignore, bot=medic The rebels dropped their demand for President
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
to resign, but he had to appoint a new
prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
from the opposition by 18 January 2013. On 17 January,
Nicolas Tiangaye Nicolas Tiangaye (born 13 September 1956Pierre Kalck and Xavier-Samuel Kalck, ''Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic'' (2005), page 182.) is a Central African Republic, Central African politician and lawyer who was Prime Ministe ...
was appointed Prime Minister.Patrick Fort
"Tiangaye named Central African PM, says 'hard work' begins"
Agence France-Presse, 17 January 2013. {{webarchive , url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227194652/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i29CmpNUhK93R12SF_Oyz_6o5uug?docId=CNG.376beea6edfc8b0d9c41b73f138d6700.4f1 , date=27 February 2014
The terms of the agreement also included that
National Assembly of the Central African Republic The National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of the Central African Republic. Members are elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round (or Run-off) system. Members serve five-year terms. History The National Assem ...
be dissolved within a week with a year-long coalition government formed in its place and a new legislative election be held within 12 months (with the possibility of postponement).{{cite news, title=Central African Republic ceasefire signed, publisher=BBC, date=11 January 2013, access-date=11 January 2013, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20990671, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111184136/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20990671, archive-date=11 January 2013, url-status=live In addition, the temporary coalition government had to implement judicial reforms, amalgamate the rebel troops with the Bozizé government's troops to establish a new national military, set up the new legislative elections, as well as introduce other social and economic reforms. Furthermore, Bozizé's government was required to free all political prisoners imprisoned during the conflict, and foreign troops must return to their countries of origin. Under the agreement,
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
rebels were not required to give up the cities they have taken or were then occupying, allegedly as a way to ensure that the Bozizé government would not renege on the agreement. Bozizé would be allowed to remain president until new presidential elections in 2016. On 23 January 2013, the ceasefire was broken, with the government blaming
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
and Séléka blaming the government for allegedly failing to honor the terms of the power-sharing agreement.{{cite news, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21880905, access-date=22 March 2013, date=21 March 2013, title=Central African Republic Seleka rebels 'seize' towns, publisher=BBC, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321170542/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21880905, archive-date=21 March 2013, url-status=live By 21 March, the rebels had advanced to
Bouca Bouca is a town located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Ouham. It is not far east of Bossangoa at the Fafa river. History On 21 March 2013, the town was overtaken by rebels of the Séléka coalition. On 9 September 2013 armed An ...
, 300 km from the capital
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
. On 22 March, the fighting reached the town of Damara, 75 km from the capital.{{cite news, url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-rebels-idUSBRE92L0H920130322, title=Central African Republic rebels reach outskirts of capital, work=Reuters, date=22 March 2013, access-date=22 March 2013, author=Ngoupana, Paul Marin, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323062038/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/22/us-centralafrica-rebels-idUSBRE92L0H920130322, archive-date=23 March 2013, url-status=live


Fall of Bangui

{{Main, Battle of Bangui On 18 March 2013, the rebels, having taken over Gambo and
Bangassou Bangassou is a city in the south eastern Central African Republic, lying on the north bank of the Mbomou River. It has a population of 24,447 (2003 census) and is the capital of the Mbomou prefecture. It is known for its wildlife, market, and near ...
, threatened to take up arms again if their demands for the release of political prisoners, the integration of their forces into the national army and for
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
n soldiers to leave the country were not met within 72 hours. Three days later, they took control of the towns of Damara and
Bossangoa Bossangoa is the capital of Ouham, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic. The town has a population of 36,478 (2003 census). It is located 303 km (189 mi) north of the country's capital, Bangui. The Ouham River pass ...
. By 23 March, they entered
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
.{{cite news, title = CAR forces 'halt rebel advance', publisher = BBC, access-date = 23 March 2013, date = 22 March 2013, url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21905433, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130323013522/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21905433, archive-date = 23 March 2013, url-status = live, df = dmy-all{{cite news , url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/world/africa/rebels-push-into-capital-in-central-african-republic.html , title=Rebels Push into Capital in Central African Republic , newspaper=
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
, date=23 March 2013 , first=Adam , last=Nossiter , access-date=26 February 2017 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104193823/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/world/africa/rebels-push-into-capital-in-central-african-republic.html , archive-date=4 November 2017 , url-status=live
On 24 March, rebels reached the Presidential Palace in the centre of the capital. The Presidential Palace and the rest of the capital soon fell to rebel forces and Bozizé fled to the
Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
,{{cite news , title = CAR rebels 'seize' presidential palace , publisher = Al Jazeera , access-date = 24 March 2013 , date = 24 March 2013 , url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/03/201332481729584103.html , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130324125650/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/03/201332481729584103.html , archive-date = 24 March 2013 , url-status = live , df = dmy-all which was followed by widespread looting in the capital.{{cite news, title=Central African Republic capital falls to rebels, Bozizé flees, url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-rebels-idUSBRE92M0AU20130324, access-date=24 March 2013, work=Reuters, date=24 March 2013, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324032711/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/24/us-centralafrica-rebels-idUSBRE92M0AU20130324, archive-date=24 March 2013, url-status=live By 2 April, only 20 of the original 200
South African National Defence Force The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister ...
troops stationed in CAR remained in the country. A company of
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
troops secured
Bangui M'Poko International Airport Bangui M'Poko International Airport is an international airport located northwest of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. In 2004, the airport served 53,862 passengers. In 2012, the airport had an average attendance of about 120,0 ...
and France sent 350 soldiers to ensure the security of its citizens, bringing the total number of French troops in CAR to nearly 600.{{cite news, title=Central African Republic: Rebels 'take palace as Bozize flees', url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21915901, access-date=24 March 2013, work=BBC News, date=24 March 2013, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324231407/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21915901, archive-date=24 March 2013, url-status=live On 25 March 2013,
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
leader
Michel Djotodia Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia (born c. 1949) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014. He was the first Muslim to hold that office in the predominantly Christian country. Djotodia was a l ...
, who served after the January agreement as First Deputy Prime Minister for National Defense, declared himself President, becoming the first
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
to ever hold the office. Djotodia said that there would be a three-year transitional period and that
Nicolas Tiangaye Nicolas Tiangaye (born 13 September 1956Pierre Kalck and Xavier-Samuel Kalck, ''Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic'' (2005), page 182.) is a Central African Republic, Central African politician and lawyer who was Prime Ministe ...
would continue to serve as Prime Minister. Djotodia promptly suspended the constitution and dissolved the government, as well as the National Assembly.{{cite news , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21934433 , title=CAR rebel head Michel Djotodia 'suspends constitution' , work=BBC News , date=25 March 2013 , access-date=26 March 2013 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326005533/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21934433 , archive-date=26 March 2013 , url-status=live He then reappointed Tiangaye as Prime Minister on 27 March 2013."Nicolas Tiangaye: C.Africa PM and 'man of integrity'"
{{webarchive , url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214025359/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130327/nicolas-tiangaye-cafrica-pm-and-man-integrity , date=14 December 2013 , Agence France-Presse, 27 March 2013.


Séléka rule and fall of Djotodia (2013–2014)

{{Main, Central African Republic conflict under the Djotodia administration In the following two days top military and police officers met with Djotodia and recognized him as President on 28 March 2013, in what was viewed as "a form of surrender", and the overall security situation was beginning to improve. A new government headed by Tiangaye, with 34 members, appointed on 31 March 2013, included nine members of
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
, along with eight representatives of the parties that had opposed Bozizé, while only one member of the government was associated with Bozizé, and 16 positions were given to representatives of civil society. The former opposition parties declared on 1 April that they would boycott the government to protest its domination by Séléka, arguing that the 16 positions given to representatives of civil society were in fact "handed over to Séléka allies disguised as civil society activists". On 3 April 2013, African leaders meeting in
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
declared that they did not recognize Djotodia as President; instead, they proposed the formation of an inclusive transitional council and the holding of new elections in 18 months, rather than three years as envisioned by Djotodia. Speaking on 4 April, Information Minister Christophe Gazam Betty said that Djotodia had accepted the proposals of the African leaders; however, he suggested that Djotodia could remain in office if he were elected to head the transitional council. Djotodia accordingly signed a decree on 6 April for the formation of a transitional council that would act as a transitional parliament. The council was tasked with electing an interim president to serve during an 18-month transitional period leading to new elections. The transitional council, composed of 105 members, met for the first time on 13 April 2013 and immediately elected Djotodia as interim President; there were no other candidates. A few days later, regional leaders publicly accepted Djotodia's transitional leadership, but, in a symbolic show of disapproval, stated that he would "not be called President of the Republic, but Head of State of the Transition". According to the plans for the transition, Djotodia would not stand as a candidate for President in the election that would conclude the transition. On 13 September 2013, Djotodia formally disbanded
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
, which he had lost effective control of once the coalition had taken power. This had little actual effect in stopping abuses by the militia soldiers who were now referred to as Ex-Séléka.Dukhan, N. (2016). The Central African Republic crisis. Birmingham, UK: GSDRC, University of Birmingham

{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329104138/http://www.gsdrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CAR_Jan2016.pdf, date=29 March 2017
Self-defense militias called Antibalaka, Anti-balaka previously formed to fight crime on a local level, had organized into militias against abuses by Séléka soldiers. On 5 December 2013, called "A Day That Will Define Central African Republic", the Anti-balaka militias coordinated an attack on
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
against its
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
population, killing more than 1,000 civilians, in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Djotodia.{{cite news, title=Bloodshed in Bangui: A Day That Will Define Central African Republic, url=http://time.com/3805535/bloodshed-in-bangui-a-day-that-will-define-central-african-republic/, access-date=5 March 2017, magazine=Time, date=6 December 2013, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306071652/http://time.com/3805535/bloodshed-in-bangui-a-day-that-will-define-central-african-republic/, archive-date=6 March 2017, url-status=live On 14 May, CAR's PM
Nicolas Tiangaye Nicolas Tiangaye (born 13 September 1956Pierre Kalck and Xavier-Samuel Kalck, ''Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic'' (2005), page 182.) is a Central African Republic, Central African politician and lawyer who was Prime Ministe ...
requested a UN peacekeeping force from the
UN Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
, and on 31 May former President Bozizé was indicted for crimes against humanity and incitement of genocide. On the same day as the 5 December attacks, the UN Security Council authorized the transfer of
MICOPAX The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS; french: Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique Centrale, CEEAC; es, Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central, CEEAC; pt, Comunidade Económica dos Estados da Áfr ...
to the
African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...
led peacekeeping mission, the International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA or AFISM-CAR), with troop numbers increasing from 2,000 to 6,000,{{cite web , title= About , date= 22 April 2015 , url= https://minusca.unmissions.org/en/about , access-date= 22 February 2017 , publisher=
MINUSCA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA, which is an initialism of its French name Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en Ce ...
, archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170223130609/https://minusca.unmissions.org/en/about , archive-date= 23 February 2017 , url-status= live , df= dmy-all
as well as for the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
peacekeeping mission called Operation Sangaris. Interim President
Michel Djotodia Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia (born c. 1949) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014. He was the first Muslim to hold that office in the predominantly Christian country. Djotodia was a l ...
and Prime Minister
Nicolas Tiangaye Nicolas Tiangaye (born 13 September 1956Pierre Kalck and Xavier-Samuel Kalck, ''Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic'' (2005), page 182.) is a Central African Republic, Central African politician and lawyer who was Prime Ministe ...
resigned on 10 January 2014 yet the conflict still continued. The National Transitional Council elected the new interim president of the
Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...
after
Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet (born 23 May 1972) is a Central African politician who served as President of the National Transitional Council of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2016. He briefly served as Acting President of the Central ...
became the Acting Chief of State. Nguendet, being the president of the provisional parliament and viewed as being close to Djotodia, did not run for the election under diplomatic pressure. On 20 January 2014,
Catherine Samba-Panza Catherine Samba-Panza (born 26 June 1954) is a Central African lawyer and politician who served as interim President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She was the first woman to hold the post of head of state in that country, as ...
, the mayor of
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
, was elected as the interim president in the second round voting.{{cite web, url=http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20140120-presidence-transition-rca-catherine-samba-panza-elue-desire-kolingba, title=Centrafrique: Catherine Samba-Panza élue présidente de la transition, publisher=Radio France Internationale, date=20 January 2014, access-date=20 January 2014, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121011219/http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20140120-presidence-transition-rca-catherine-samba-panza-elue-desire-kolingba, archive-date=21 January 2014, url-status=live Samba-Panza was viewed as having been neutral and away from clan clashes. Her arrival to the presidency was generally accepted by both the Ex-Séléka and the
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
sides. Following the election, Samba-Panza made a speech in the parliament appealing to the Ex-Séléka and the Anti-balaka for putting down their weapons.


Ex-Séléka and Anti-balaka fighting (2014–2020)

On 27 January,
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
leaders left
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
under the escort of
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
ian peacekeepers. The aftermath of Djotodia's presidency was said to be without law, a functioning police and courts{{cite web, url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47111&Cr=central+african+republic&Cr1=#.Uv_Gu0KzBJ0, title=United Nations News Centre, date=10 February 2014, work=UN News Service Section, access-date=28 June 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010035502/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47111&Cr=central+african+republic&Cr1=#.Uv_Gu0KzBJ0, archive-date=10 October 2016, url-status=live leading to a wave of violence against
Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
. The
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are located primarily in Europe, Europe. The union has a total area of ...
decided to set up its first military operations in six years when foreign ministers approved the sending of up to 1,000 soldiers to the country by the end of February, to be based around
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
.
Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, an ...
promised to send soldiers, while
Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
,
Slovenia Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, and ...
,
Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bot ...
,
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
,
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
and
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic countries, Nordic c ...
were considering sending troops;
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
,
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
and
Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It ...
announced that they would not send soldiers.{{cite web , url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/01/car-2014120133557833528.html , title=CAR appoints Bangui mayor as interim leader , publisher=Al Jazeera , access-date=30 January 2014 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123210724/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/01/car-2014120133557833528.html , archive-date=23 January 2014 , url-status=live The
UN Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
unanimously voted to approve sending European Union troops and to give them a mandate to use force, as well as threatening sanctions against those responsible for the violence. The E.U. had pledged 500 troops to aid
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
n and
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
troops already in the country. Specifically the resolution allowed for the use of "''all necessary measures''" to protect civilians. The first batch of 55 EUFOR troops arrived in
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
, according to the French army, and carried out its first patrol on 9 April with the intention of "''maintaining security and training local officers''". On 15 February, France announced that it would send an additional 400 troops to the country. French President
François Hollande François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. He previously was First Secretary of the Socialist Party (France), First Secretary of the Socialist P ...
's office called for "''increased solidarity''" with the CAR and for the United Nations Security Council to accelerate the deployment of peacekeeping troops to the CAR.
Ban Ki-moon Ban Ki-moon (; ; born 13 June 1944) is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Ban was his country's Ministe ...
then also called for the rapid deployment of 3,000 additional international peacekeepers. Because of increasing violence, on 10 April 2014, the UN Security Council transferred MISCA to a UN peacekeeping operation called the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) with 10,000 troops, to be deployed in September that year. MINUSCA drew figurative "red lines" on the roads to keep the peace among rival militias.{{cite web, url=https://www.irinnews.org/analysis/2017/02/24/central-african-republic-what's-gone-wrong, title=Central African Republic: What's gone wrong?, agency=IRIN, date=24 February 2017, access-date=26 February 2017 France called for a vote at the
UNSC The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
in April 2014 and expected a unanimous resolution authorising 10,000 troops and 1,800 police to replace the over 5,000
African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...
soldiers on 15 September; the motion was then approved. After an incident where civilians were killed that involved
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
ian soldiers, Chad announced the withdrawal of its forces from MISCA in April 2014.{{cite web, url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/04/un-chad-soldiers-killed-30-car-201444151841424834.html, title=UN: Chad soldiers killed 30 in CAR, access-date=13 June 2014, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413075719/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/04/un-chad-soldiers-killed-30-car-201444151841424834.html, archive-date=13 April 2014, url-status=live As UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon Ban Ki-moon (; ; born 13 June 1944) is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Ban was his country's Ministe ...
warned of a ''de facto'' partition of the country into
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
and
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
areas as a result of the sectarian fighting, he also called the conflict an "urgent test" for the UN and the region's states.
Amnesty International Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says it has more than ten million members and s ...
blamed the
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
militia of causing a "Muslim exodus of historic proportions." Samba-Panza suggested poverty and a failure of governance was the cause of the conflict. Some Muslims of the country were also weary of the French presence in MISCA, with the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
accused of not doing enough to stop attacks by Christian militias. One of the cited reasons for the difficulty in stopping attacks by Anti-balaka militias was the mob nature of these attacks. After three days of talks, a ceasefire was signed on 24 July 2014 in
Brazzaville Brazzaville (, kg, Kintamo, Nkuna, Kintambo, Ntamo, Mavula, Tandala, Mfwa, Mfua; Teke: ''M'fa'', ''Mfaa'', ''Mfa'', ''Mfoa''Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CL ...
,
Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...
.{{cite news , url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/world/africa/central-african-republic-factions-approve-a-cease-fire-agreement.html , title=Central African Republic: Factions Approve a Cease-Fire Agreement , agency=Associated Press , work=The New York Times , date=23 July 2014 , access-date=24 July 2014 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725024900/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/world/africa/central-african-republic-factions-approve-a-cease-fire-agreement.html , archive-date=25 July 2014 , url-status=live , df=dmy-all The
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
representative was General Mohamed Moussa Dhaffane, and the Anti-balaka representative was Patrick Edouard Ngaïssona. The talks were mediated by Congolese president Denis Sassou Nguesso and
South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of th ...
ese diplomat Albino Aboug.{{cite news , url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-centralafrica-talks-idUKKBN0FS2GJ20140723?feedType=RSS , title=Central African Republic groups sign ceasefire after talks , work=Reuters , date=24 July 2014 , access-date=24 July 2014 , author=Elion, Christian , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728034145/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/07/23/uk-centralafrica-talks-idUKKBN0FS2GJ20140723?feedType=RSS , archive-date=28 July 2014 , url-status=live , df=dmy-all The Séléka delegation had pushed for a formalization of the partition of the
Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...
with
Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
in the north and
Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ� ...
in the south but dropped that demand in talks.{{cite web , url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28457599 , title=Central African Republic factions announce ceasefire , publisher=BBC , date=24 July 2014 , access-date=24 July 2014 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724023706/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28457599 , archive-date=24 July 2014 , url-status=live , df=dmy-all Many factions on the ground claimed the talks were not representative and fighting continued with Séléka's military leader
Joseph Zoundeiko General Joseph Zoundeiko (or Zindeko) (died 11 February 2017) was the leader of military wing of the Central African rebel militia alliance, Séléka. Born in Tiringoulou, Vakaga, he worked as a guard and tracker, securing parklands on the nor ...
rejected the ceasefire agreement the next day saying it lacked input from his military wing and brought back the demand for partition. Ngaïssona told a general assembly of Anti-balaka fighters and supporters to lay down their arms and that Anti-balaka would be turned into a political party called Central African Party for Unity and Development (PCUD) but he had little control over the loose network of fighters. In May 2015, a national reconciliation conference organized by the transitional government of the Central Africa Republic took place. This was called the Bangui National Forum. The forum resulted in the adoption of a Republican Pact for Peace, National Reconciliation and Reconstruction and the signature of a Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Repatriation (DDRR) agreement among 9 of 10 armed groups. Months after the official dissolution of
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
it was not known who was in charge of Ex-Séléka factions during talks with Anti-balaka until on 12 July 2014,
Michel Djotodia Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia (born c. 1949) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2013 to 2014. He was the first Muslim to hold that office in the predominantly Christian country. Djotodia was a l ...
was reinstated as the head of an ad hoc coalition of Ex-Séléka{{cite news, last=Kleinfeld, first=Philip, title=Rebel schism drives alarming upsurge of violence in Central African Republic, url=http://www.irinnews.org/feature/2017/05/18/rebel-schism-drives-alarming-upsurge-violence-central-african-republic, agency=IRIN, date=18 May 2017, access-date= 18 May 2017 which renamed itself " The Popular Front for the Rebirth (or Renaissance) of Central African Republic" (FPRC). Later in 2014, Noureddine Adam led the FPRC and began demanding independence for the predominantly
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
north, a move rejected by another general,
Ali Darassa Ali Darassa Mahamat (born 22 September 1978), also known as Ali Nassaraza Darassa, Ali Daras, and Ali Ndarass is a Nigerian leader of the Central African rebel group, the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), which is dominant ...
, who formed another Ex-Séléka faction called the " Union for Peace in the Central African Republic" (UPC), which was dominant in and around
Bambari Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It has a population of 41,356 (2003 census) and is the capital of Ouaka prefecture. Bambari is an important market town and is home to Bambari Airport, and the R ...
, while the FPRC's capital is in Bria.{{cite web, url=https://international.la-croix.com/news/the-battle-of-ouaka-in-central-african-republic/4756, title=The battle of Ouaka in Central African Republic, publisher=LaCroix International, date=27 February 2017, access-date=27 February 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227131744/https://international.la-croix.com/news/the-battle-of-ouaka-in-central-african-republic/4756, archive-date=27 February 2017, url-status=live Darassa rebuffed multiple attempts to reunify Séléka and threatened FPRC's hegemony. Noureddine Adam declared the autonomous
Republic of Logone The Republic of Logone (french: République de Logone), also known as Dar al-Kuti (french: Dar el-Kouti, links=no), was a partially-realized, self-declared autonomous region and proto-state internationally recognised as part of the Central Afri ...
or Dar El Kuti{{cite web, url=http://www.enoughproject.org/reports/dangerous-divisions-central-african-republic-faces-threat-secession, title=Dangerous Divisions: The Central African Republic faces the threat of secession, publisher=Enough Project, date=15 February 2017, access-date=1 March 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302194833/http://www.enoughproject.org/reports/dangerous-divisions-central-african-republic-faces-threat-secession, archive-date=2 March 2017, url-status=live on 14 December 2015 and intended Bambari as the capital, with the transitional government denouncing the declaration and MINUSCA stating it will use force against any separatist attempt. Another group is the "
Central African Patriotic Movement Central African Patriotic Movement (MPC, french: Mouvement patriotique pour la Centrafrique) is a rebel group in the Central African Republic based in nortwestern part of the country. History MPC was formed in July 2015 by Mahamat Al-Khatim. ...
" (MPC), founded by Mahamat Al Khatim. Since 2014, there has been little government control outside of the capital. Armed entrepreneurs have carved out personal fiefdoms in which they set up checkpoints, collect illegal taxes, and take in millions of dollars from the illicit coffee, mineral, and timber trades. At least 14 armed groups vied for territory, notably four factions formed by Ex-Séléka leaders who controlled about 60% of the country's territory. In January 2015, talks in
Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ...
between Joachim Kokate representing the Anti-balaka and Djotodia and
Adam Adam; el, Ἀδάμ, Adám; la, Adam is the name given in Genesis 1-5 to the first human. Beyond its use as the name of the first man, ''adam'' is also used in the Bible as a pronoun, individually as "a human" and in a collective sense as " ...
of FPRC led to another ceasefire agreement where they called for amnesty for all perpetrators of abuses and the removal of the current transitional authorities. The transitional government and the international community dismissed the deal as it excluded them from the negotiations and termed the parties "Nairobists". By October 2015, Samba-Panza accused the Nairobists of plotting a coup and dozens of FPRC combatants even walked from the north-east of the country to
Sibut Sibut (), formerly Fort Sibut (french: Fort-Sibut) is the capital of Kémo, one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. An important transport hub, it is situated north of the capital Bangui and is known for its market. Sibut is ...
, a few kilometres from the capital, threatening the transitional authorities, but were stopped by international forces. With the de facto partition of the country between Ex-Séléka militias in the north and east and Anti-balaka militias in the south and west, hostilities between both sides decreased but sporadic fighting continued. In February 2016, after a peaceful
election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operat ...
, the former prime minister
Faustin-Archange Touadéra Faustin-Archange Touadéra (; born 21 April 1957) is a Central African politician and academic who has been President of the Central African Republic since March 2016. He previously was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from Janua ...
was elected president. In October 2016,
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
announced that it was ending its peacekeeping mission in the country, Operation Sangaris, and largely withdrew its troops, saying that the operation was a success. By March 2014, the
UNSC The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
had authorised a probe into possible genocide, which in turn followed
International Criminal Court The International Criminal Court (ICC or ICCt) is an intergovernmental organization and International court, international tribunal seated in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to pro ...
Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda initiating a preliminary investigation into the "''extreme brutality''" and whether it falls into the court's remit. The UNSC mandate probe would be led by
Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the ...
ian lawyer Bernard Acho Muna, who was the deputy chief prosecutor for the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR; french: Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda; rw, Urukiko Mpanabyaha Mpuzamahanga Rwashyiriweho u Rwanda) was an international court established in November 1994 by the United Nation ...
, former
Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jorge Castañeda and
Mauritania Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
n lawyer Fatimata M'Baye. The ICC began prosecutions and
Alfred Yekatom Alfred Yekatom alias Rambo is a former leader of Central African rebel group Anti-balaka, arrested in 2018 for his war crimes. Life Yekatom was born in 1975 in Bimbo. He is former corporal chief of Central African Armed Forces and member o ...
of the Anti-Balaka who was involved in the 'Battle of Bangui' and Patrice Edouard Ngaïssona of the Anti-Balaka were arrested in 2018, although no one from the Ex-Séléka was arrested. In eastern CAR, tensions erupted in competition between Ex-Séléka militias arising over control of a goldmine in November 2016, where MPC and the FPRC coalition, which incorporated elements of their former enemy, the Anti-balaka, attacked UPC. The violence is often ethnic in nature with the FPRC associated with the Gula and
Runga ''Runga'' is a genus of Polynesian araneomorph spiders in the family Physoglenidae that was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1990. Species it contains five species, found on the Polynesian Islands: *'' Runga akaroa'' Forster, 1990 � ...
people and the UPC associated with the
Fulani The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, Fulani or Hilani; pt, Fula, links=no; wo, Pël; bm, Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. ...
. Most of the fighting was in the centrally located Ouaka prefecture, which has the country's second largest city
Bambari Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It has a population of 41,356 (2003 census) and is the capital of Ouaka prefecture. Bambari is an important market town and is home to Bambari Airport, and the R ...
, because of its strategic location between the
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
and
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
regions of the country and its wealth. The fight for Bambari in early 2017 displaced 20,000.{{cite news, url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-violence-idUSKBN15R0WC, title=U.N. air strikes in Central African Republic kill several: militia, date=12 February 2017, work=Reuters, access-date=14 February 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214000843/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-violence-idUSKBN15R0WC, archive-date=14 February 2017, url-status=live MINUSCA made a robust deployment to prevent FPRC taking the city and in February 2017,
Joseph Zoundeiko General Joseph Zoundeiko (or Zindeko) (died 11 February 2017) was the leader of military wing of the Central African rebel militia alliance, Séléka. Born in Tiringoulou, Vakaga, he worked as a guard and tracker, securing parklands on the nor ...
, the chief of staff of FPRC who previously led the military wing of
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
, was killed by MINUSCA after crossing one of the red lines.{{cite web, url=http://www.newsweek.com/central-african-republic-war-fprc-car-556068, title=U.N. 'KILLS REBEL COMMANDER' IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AIRSTRIKES, website=
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...
, date=13 February 2017, access-date=14 February 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213235108/http://www.newsweek.com/central-african-republic-war-fprc-car-556068, archive-date=13 February 2017, url-status=live
At the same time, MINUSCA negotiated the removal of
Ali Darassa Ali Darassa Mahamat (born 22 September 1978), also known as Ali Nassaraza Darassa, Ali Daras, and Ali Ndarass is a Nigerian leader of the Central African rebel group, the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), which is dominant ...
from the city. This led to UPC to find new territory, spreading the fighting from urban to rural areas previously spared. Additionally, the thinly spread MINUSCA relied on
Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The ...
n as well as
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
special forces to keep the peace in the southeast, as they were part of a campaign to eliminate the
Lord's Resistance Army The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), also known as the Lord's Resistance Movement, is a rebel group and heterodox Christian group which operates in northern Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the ...
, but the mission ended in April 2017. By the latter half of 2017, the fighting largely shifted to the southeast where the UPC reorganized and were pursued by the FPRC and Anti-balaka with the level of violence only matched by the early stage of the war.{{cite news, url=http://www.irinnews.org/feature/2017/10/30/people-are-dying-every-day-car-refugees-fleeing-war-suffer-congo, title=CAR refugees fleeing war suffer in Congo, agency=IRIN, date=30 October 2017, access-date=26 November 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041544/http://www.irinnews.org/feature/2017/10/30/people-are-dying-every-day-car-refugees-fleeing-war-suffer-congo, archive-date=1 December 2017, url-status=live About 15,000 people fled from their homes in an attack in May and six U.N. peacekeepers were killed – the deadliest month for the mission yet. In June 2017, another ceasefire was signed in
Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...
by the government and 14 armed groups including FPRC, but the next day fighting between an FPRC faction and Anti-balaka militias killed more than 100 people. In October 2017, another ceasefire was signed between the UPC, the FPRC, and Anti-balaka groups, and FPRC announced
Ali Darassa Ali Darassa Mahamat (born 22 September 1978), also known as Ali Nassaraza Darassa, Ali Daras, and Ali Ndarass is a Nigerian leader of the Central African rebel group, the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), which is dominant ...
as coalition vice-president, but fighting continued afterward. By July 2018 the FPRC was headed by Abdoulaye Hissène and based in the northeastern town of
N'Délé N'Délé or Ndele is a market town and sub prefecture in the north eastern Central African Republic, lying east of the Bamingui-Bangoran National Park. Ndélé is the capital of Bamingui-Bangoran, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African ...
. In 2019, the FPRC split into two factions, a
Runga ''Runga'' is a genus of Polynesian araneomorph spiders in the family Physoglenidae that was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1990. Species it contains five species, found on the Polynesian Islands: *'' Runga akaroa'' Forster, 1990 � ...
group on one side, including Abdoulaye Hissene, and rival fighters from the Gula and
Kara Kara or KARA may refer to: Geography Localities * Kara, Chad, a sub-prefecture * Kára, Hungary, a village * Kara, Uttar Pradesh, India, a township * Kara, Iran, a village in Lorestan Province * Kara, Republic of Dagestan, a rural locality in Da ...
on the other side. In western CAR, another rebel group, with no known links to
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
or
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
, called "Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation" (3R) formed in 2015 reportedly by Sidiki Abass,{{cite news, url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/12/20/central-african-republic-mayhem-new-group, title=Central African Republic: Mayhem by New Group, publisher=Human Rights Watch, date=20 December 2016, access-date=28 February 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301094442/https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/12/20/central-african-republic-mayhem-new-group, archive-date=1 March 2017, url-status=live claiming to be protecting Muslim Fulani people from an Anti-balaka militia led by Abbas Rafal.{{cite news, url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/newly-formed-3r-rebel-group-inflicts-horrors-car-161223035217671.html, title=Newly formed 3R rebel group inflicts horrors in CAR: UN, publisher=Al Jazeera, date=23 December 2016, access-date=28 February 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227235903/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/newly-formed-3r-rebel-group-inflicts-horrors-car-161223035217671.html, archive-date=27 February 2017, url-status=live They are accused of displacing 17,000 people in November 2016 and at least 30,000 people in the
Ouham-Pendé Ouham-Pendé is one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. Its capital is Bozoum. The region contains several ghost towns such as Goroumo, Beogombo Deux and Paoua due to government forces ransacking them and armed bandits killi ...
prefecture in December 2016. In northwestern CAR around
Paoua Paoua is a town located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Ouham-Pendé. History Paoua and its surrounding territories have become something of a ghost town after rebel and government soldier attacks in 2006 and 2007, with much of the ...
, fighting since December 2017 between "Revolution and Justice" (RJ) and "Movement for the Liberation of the Central African Republic People" (MNLC) displaced around 60,000 people. MNLC, founded in October 2017, was led by Ahamat Bahar, a former member and co-founder of FPRC and MRC, and is allegedly backed by Fulani fighters from
Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
. The Christian militant group RJ was formed in 2013, mostly by members of the presidential guard of former president
Ange-Félix Patassé Ange-Félix Patassé (January 25, 1937 – April 5, 2011) was a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 1993 until 2003, when he was deposed by the rebel leader François Bozizé in the 2003 coup d'� ...
, and were composed mainly of ethnic Sara-Kaba.{{cite news, url=http://www.irinnews.org/report/100623/armed-groups-car, title=Armed groups in CAR, agency=IRIN, date=17 September 2014, access-date=18 January 2018, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119175434/http://www.irinnews.org/report/100623/armed-groups-car, archive-date=19 January 2018, url-status=live While both groups had previously divided the territory in the Northwest, tensions erupted after the killing of RJ leader, Clément Bélanga, in November 2017. Beginning around 2017,
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
began to increasingly support the government of Touadéra, whose personal guard became largely Russian as well. Three Russian journalists were killed in 2018 while investigating Russian mercenary groups in CAR. In August 2018, Russia and
Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
helped broker another tentative agreement among armed groups. After talks in
Khartoum Khartoum or Khartum ( ; ar, الخرطوم, Al-Khurṭūm, din, Kaartuɔ̈m) is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile, flowing n ...
, an
African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...
led initiative led to an accord between the government and 14 rebel groups in February 2019 called the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, the eighth such agreement since the war started in 2012. As part of the accord,
Ali Darassa Ali Darassa Mahamat (born 22 September 1978), also known as Ali Nassaraza Darassa, Ali Daras, and Ali Ndarass is a Nigerian leader of the Central African rebel group, the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), which is dominant ...
of UPC, Mahamat Al-Khatim of MPC and Sidiki Abass of 3R were given positions as special military advisers to the prime minister's office overseeing special mixed units made of government and rebel soldiers in regions of the country that they already controlled.{{cite web, url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/24/central-african-republic-dont-reward-warlords#, title=Central African Republic:Don't reward warlords, publisher=
Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international non-governmental organization, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. The group pressures governments, policy makers, companies, and individual human ...
, date=24 April 2019, access-date=25 May 2019
This did not stop the violence, with 3R killing more than 50 people in several villages in May 2019,{{cite news, url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/50-killed-armed-group-attack-villages-car-190524193707718.html, title=At least 50 killed in armed group attack on villages in CAR: UN, publisher=
Al Jazeera Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazee ...
, date=24 May 2019, access-date=25 May 2019
leading to MINUSCA to launch a military operation against them. In August 2019, Sidiki Abbas of 3R and Mahamat Al-Khatim of MPC resigned from their government posts. Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC) leader Abdoulaye Miskine refused to take his government post and joined a new rebel group formed in June 2019 called "Partie du Rassemblement de la Nation Centrafricaine" (PRNC) to oppose the peace deal, claiming that the deal is a way of rebel leaders to gain money and posts from the government. In September 2019, fighting between two rebel groups that signed the February 2019 deal, FPRC and the mostly
Kara Kara or KARA may refer to: Geography Localities * Kara, Chad, a sub-prefecture * Kára, Hungary, a village * Kara, Uttar Pradesh, India, a township * Kara, Iran, a village in Lorestan Province * Kara, Republic of Dagestan, a rural locality in Da ...
"
Movement of Central African Liberators for Justice Movement may refer to: Common uses * Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece * Motion, commonly referred to as movement Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * "Movement" (short story), a short story by Nancy Fu ...
" (MLCJ), which was founded by
Abakar Sabon Abakar Sabon (also spelled Saboune or Sabone) was the leader of the Movement of Central African Liberators for Justice rebel group during the Central African Republic Bush War. Biography Born in Boda to a Chadian father and Central African mot ...
and was not part of the
Séléka Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR was an alliance of rebel militia groups that subjugated the Central African Republic (CAR) on 24 March 2013. After its official dissolution in September 2013, the remaining rebel groups became known as Ex-Séléka. Sél ...
alliance that overthrew Bozizé, killed at least 24 people and displaced about 24,000.{{cite news, url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2019/11/04/Central-African-Republic-rebels-fight-peace-deal, title=Briefing: In Central African Republic, rebels fight on as peace deal falters, publisher=The New Humanitarian, date=4 November 2019, access-date=17 December 2019


Rebel alliance and advance

Presidential and legislative elections were scheduled for 27 December 2020. Former President
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
had announced his return to the country in December 2019 and his intent to run in the presidential election. Bozizé, of the
Gbaya Gbaya may refer to: *Gbaya people *Gbaya languages * Gbaya, Guinea, a community in Nzérékoré Prefecture Nzérékoré is a prefecture located in the Nzérékoré Region of Guinea. The capital is Nzérékoré. The prefecture covers an area of 3, ...
, the country's largest ethnic group, retained much support among the population and army members.{{cite news, url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/23/un-says-seized-car-town-under-peacekeepers-control, title=Bambari: UN says seized CAR town now under peacekeepers' control, publisher=Al Jazeera, date=23 December 2020, access-date=27 December 2020 On 19 December 2020 six rebel groups who together control two-thirds of the country's territory,{{cite news, url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/13/rebels-launch-attacks-on-central-african-republics-capital, title=Rebels launch attacks on Central African Republic's capital, date=13 January 2021, access-date=13 January 2021 including 3R led by General
Sembé Bobo Sembé is a town located in the Sangha Region of the Republic of the Congo. It is located about 1193 km from Accra, about 1581 km from Lagos and about 3297 km from Fortaleza Fortaleza (, locally , Portuguese for ''Fortress' ...
, FPRC, and UPC,{{cite news, url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/22/russia-confirms-sending-300-military-instructors-to-car, title=CAR rebels seize Bambari city, Russia confirms sending military, publisher=Al Jazeera, date=22 December 2020, access-date=27 December 2020 announced they had formed an alliance called the
Coalition of Patriots for Change The Coalition of Patriots for Change (''Coalition des patriotes pour le changement'') is a coalition of major rebel groups in the Central African Republic created in 2020 to disrupt the 2020–21 Central African general election. Background O ...
(CPC), and accused President Touadéra of trying to rig the election and stated their intent to advance to the capital. They seized several towns close to
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
. The government accused Bozizé of fomenting a coup with the rebels after his candidacy for presidential elections was rejected by the country's highest court, but Bozizé denied this.{{cite news, url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/25/central-african-rebel-groups-call-off-ceasefire-before-election, title=CAR rebels call off truce, resume march on Bangui as polls loom, publisher=Al Jazeera, date=25 December 2020, access-date=27 December 2020 On 20 December 2020
Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
confirmed it had sent troops and
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
said it had sent 300 military instructors. On 22 December, the CPC, in an offensive led by UPC, had taken the country's fourth largest city,
Bambari Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It has a population of 41,356 (2003 census) and is the capital of Ouaka prefecture. Bambari is an important market town and is home to Bambari Airport, and the R ...
, according to its mayor, but the UN stated that its peacekeepers had retaken the city the next day. On 28 December, it was announced by the electoral commission that 800 (14%) of polling stations failed to operate during the presidential and legislative elections due to violent attacks from armed rebels. On January 3, 2021,
MINUSCA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA, which is an initialism of its French name Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en Ce ...
reported that the rebel coalition partially captured
Bangassou Bangassou is a city in the south eastern Central African Republic, lying on the north bank of the Mbomou River. It has a population of 24,447 (2003 census) and is the capital of the Mbomou prefecture. It is known for its wildlife, market, and near ...
, adding that the fighters were allied to former President
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
. It is argued that the arrival of the
Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
ns and
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
ns thwarted the rebels from reaching
Bangui Bangui () (or Bangî in Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Uban ...
and so the rebels adopted a long term strategy of suffocating Bangui by controlling the resources around it,{{Cite news, author=Al Jazeera Staff, date=2021-01-04, title=CAR rebels attack and enter town before poll results announced, language=en, agency=Reuters, url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/4/car-rebels-seize-central-town-of-bangassou, access-date=2021-01-05 however, on January 13, the CPC attacked the capital but were eventually repelled. On January 4, the electoral commission declared Touadéra the winner of the presidential election. A state of emergency was declared in January 25, and President Touadéra has been accused of using that opportunity to crack down on opponents and consolidate power. Pro-Touadéra militias known as the "Sharks" and "7th Territorial Infantry Battalion" are alleged to have been involved in disappearances of members of Bozizé's party and former president's
Catherine Samba-Panza Catherine Samba-Panza (born 26 June 1954) is a Central African lawyer and politician who served as interim President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She was the first woman to hold the post of head of state in that country, as ...
, as well as challengers of Touadéra in the recent polls,
Anicet-Georges Dologuélé Anicet-Georges Dologuélé (born 17 April 1957) is a Central African politician who was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from 4 January 1999 to 1 April 2001. Subsequently, he was President of the Development Bank of Central African St ...
and
Martin Ziguélé Martin Ziguélé (born 12 February 1957) is a Central African politician who was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from 2001 to 2003. He placed second in the 2005 presidential election and is currently the President of the Movement ...
, report being prevented from exiting the country.


Russian mercenaries and government offensives (January 2021-present)

Since January 2021, due to the actions of
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
's
neo-Nazi Neo-Nazism comprises the post–World War II militant, social, and political movements that seek to revive and reinstate Nazi ideology. Neo-Nazis employ their ideology to promote hatred and racial supremacy (often white supremacy), attack ...
-linked{{efn, {{cite journal , author-last=Faulkner , author-first=Christopher , date=June 2022 , url=https://ctc.westpoint.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CTC-SENTINEL-062022.pdf , title=Undermining Democracy and Exploiting Clients: The Wagner Group's Nefarious Activities in Africa , url-status=live , editor1-last=Cruickshank , editor1-first=Paul , editor2-last=Hummel , editor2-first=Kristina , journal=
CTC Sentinel The Combating Terrorism Center is an academic institution at the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York that provides education, research and policy analysis in the specialty areas of terrorism, counterterrorism, homeland ...
, volume=15 , issue=6 , pages=28–37 , publisher=
Combating Terrorism Center The Combating Terrorism Center is an academic institution at the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York that provides education, research and policy analysis in the specialty areas of terrorism, counterterrorism, homela ...
, location=
West Point, New York West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, West Point was identified by General George Washington as the most important strategic position in America during the Ame ...
, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719173200/https://ctc.westpoint.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CTC-SENTINEL-062022.pdf , archive-date=19 July 2022 , access-date=16 August 2022
{{Cite news , title=Moscow Turns U.S. Volunteers Into New Bogeyman in Ukraine , url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/15/russia-mercenaries-volunteers-ukraine/ , work=
Foreign Policy A state's foreign policy or external policy (as opposed to internal or domestic policy) is its objectives and activities in relation to its interactions with other states, unions, and other political entities, whether bilaterally or through ...
, last=Ling , first=Justin , date=15 March 2022 , quote=The propaganda campaign has extolled the Wagner Group as hunting neo-Nazis and extremists. Yet the group’s own ties to the Russian far-right are well documented: The likely founder of the group has the logo of the Nazi Schutzstaffel tattooed on his neck. Various elements of the current Wagner Group have ties to neo-Nazis and far-right extremism. , access-date=26 June 2022
{{cite web, url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/putin-nazi-pretext-russia-war-ukraine-belied-white-supremacy-ties-rcna23043, title=One of the worst ways Putin is gaslighting the world on Ukraine, work=
NBC News NBC News is the news division of the American broadcast television network NBC. The division operates under NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, a division of NBCUniversal, which is, in turn, a subsidiary of Comcast. The news division's v ...
, publisher=
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
, last1=Soufan, first1=Ali, last2=Sales, first2=Nathan, quote="The Wagner Group is named after the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner, whose music Adolf Hitler adored. The group’s leader, Dmitry Utkin, reportedly wears Nazi tattoos, including a swastika, a Nazi eagle and SS lightning bolts. Wagner mercenaries are reported to have left behind neo-Nazi propaganda in the war zones where they’ve fought, including graffiti with hate symbols."
Wagner Group The Wagner Group (russian: Группа Вагнера, Gruppa Vagnera), also known as PMC Wagner ( «Вагнер», ChVK «Vagner»; ), is a Russian paramilitary organization. It is variously described as a private military company (PMC), a ...
and neo-Nazi
Russian Imperial Movement The Russian Imperial Movement (RIM; russian: Русское Имперское Движениe, translit=Russkoe imperskoe dvizhenie, RID)Marlene Laruelle, ''Russian Nationalism: Imaginaries, Doctrines, and Political Battlefields'' (Routledge, 2 ...
, the rebels have been on the retreat for the first time in years. On 25 January 2021, CAR forces, backed by Russian PMCs and
Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
n troops, attacked
Boyali Boyali is a village located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Ombella-M'Poko on the road between Boali and Bossembélé. History On 8 January 2014 Séléka withdrew from Boyali. Same day 200 Anti-balaka fighters enter the town ...
, killing 44 rebels who were plotting an assault on the capital.{{Cite news, url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/central-african-republic-troops-beat-back-rebels-with-russian-help-1.4468637, title=Central African Republic troops beat back rebels with Russian help, newspaper=The Irish Times Subsequently, CAR forces, supported by the Russian contractors and Rwandan troops, captured a number of strategic towns throughout February 2021, including Bossembele,
Bouar Bouar is a market town in the western Central African Republic, lying on the main road from Bangui (437 km) to the frontier with Cameroon (210 km). The city is the capital of Nana-Mambéré prefecture, has a population of 40,353, while ...
, Beloko and
Bossangoa Bossangoa is the capital of Ouham, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic. The town has a population of 36,478 (2003 census). It is located 303 km (189 mi) north of the country's capital, Bangui. The Ouham River pass ...
. As the rebels were being pushed back, Valery Zakharov urged them to hand over their leaders to the CAR's security forces. During the fighting, the rebel
Coalition of Patriots for Change The Coalition of Patriots for Change (''Coalition des patriotes pour le changement'') is a coalition of major rebel groups in the Central African Republic created in 2020 to disrupt the 2020–21 Central African general election. Background O ...
(CPC) claimed its fighters killed several Wagner Group PMCs and captured one when they destroyed their truck near
Bambari Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It has a population of 41,356 (2003 census) and is the capital of Ouaka prefecture. Bambari is an important market town and is home to Bambari Airport, and the R ...
on 10 February.{{Cite web, url=https://news.rambler.ru/army/45827681-boytsov-chvk-vagnera-ubili-v-tsar/, title=Бойцов ЧВК Вагнера убили в ЦАР, website=Рамблер/новости Government advances, with the support of
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
n and
Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
n forces, continued during March, April and May 2021. This included the capture of the strategic towns of Bria and
Kaga-Bandoro Kaga-Bandoro is a market town and capital of the Nana-Grébizi prefecture of the Central African Republic. It represents the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaga–Bandoro. History On 25 December 2012 rebels from Séléka coalition took ...
and the
Bakouma Bakouma is a sub-prefecture in the prefecture of Mbomou in Central African Republic. The area is known for its prosperity of mineral resources which have for a long time remained unexploited. History Bakouma was founded in September 1892 when t ...
sub-prefecture. Some towns were also seized solely by the Russian PMCs,RCA : les mercenaires russes et syriens ont repris la ville de Yalinga sans affrontement
/ref> including
Nzacko Nzacko or Nzako is a village located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Mbomou on the road between Bakouma and Bria. Artisanal diamond mining is active in the commune. History In July 2014 Séléka militiamen clashed with Ugandan ...
. In at least one instance, the contractors reportedly included
Syrians Syrians ( ar, سُورِيُّون, ''Sūriyyīn'') are an Eastern Mediterranean ethnic group indigenous to the Levant. They share common Levantine Semitic roots. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend of both ind ...
. On March 25, 3R rebel leader Sidiki Abass, whose group is accused of war crimes, had succumbed to his injuries in the northern part of the country. In April 2021, the UPC, then the biggest of the armed rebel groups, withdrew from the CPC and asked to talk with the government which has declined so far. The rebels were seen to be moving away from cities and towards peripheral areas and turning to guerilla tactics instead of open fighting. By mid-May, the
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
ns have captured a village about 40 km from
Bambari Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It has a population of 41,356 (2003 census) and is the capital of Ouaka prefecture. Bambari is an important market town and is home to Bambari Airport, and the R ...
during fighting that left 20 people dead. In addition, at the end of the month,
Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
and
Syrian Syrians ( ar, سُورِيُّون, ''Sūriyyīn'') are an Eastern Mediterranean ethnic group indigenous to the Levant. They share common Levantine Semitic roots. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend of both indi ...
PMCs of the Wagner Group attacked a rebel checkpoint at the entrance of a village 28 km from Bria, killing three CPC fighters. Towards the end of July, the CAR military was leaving the frontline against the CPC to the PMCs. The plan was for government troops to occupy the captured positions after they had been secured by the contractors. The increase in influence by
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
at the expense of
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
in its former colony led to a
disinformation campaign Disinformation is false information deliberately spread to deceive people. It is sometimes confused with misinformation, which is false information but is not deliberate. The English word ''disinformation'' comes from the application of the L ...
on
Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dust ...
between the two powers and France suspending aid and military cooperation with the CAR government in May 2021. On 5 October 2021, 34 civilians were killed by alleged UPC rebels in the village of Matchika near
Bambari Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It has a population of 41,356 (2003 census) and is the capital of Ouaka prefecture. Bambari is an important market town and is home to Bambari Airport, and the R ...
. Between 6 and 16 December 2021
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
fighters from pro-government faction killed number of Muslim civilians in Boyo commune for their alleged links with UPC rebels. On 16 and 17 January 2022, Russian mercenaries killed at least 65 civilians in Aïgbado and Yanga villages. In March 2022, they launched a large offensive against armed groups in the northern part of the country, during which they reportedly killed hundreds of civilians, mostly artisanal miners. In April 2022 a series of intercommunal clashes involving 3R rebels and pro-government faction of
Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of Christians. However, some church leaders have contested the claimed exclusively Christian character ...
led to dozens of deaths and displacement of more than 1,000 people in
Gadzi Gadzi is a sub-prefecture in the Central African Republic. History In 2002, the locality becomes chief town of one of the seven sub-prefectures of Mambéré-Kadéï, resulting from a division of the sub-prefecture of Carnot. In April 2022 s ...
. On 4 December 2022 leader of four armed groups (MLCJ, RPRC, UFR and UFR-R) signed in Bangui an agreement announcing their dissolution.


Atrocities


Religious cleansing

It is argued that the focus of the initial disarmament efforts exclusively on the Séléka inadvertently handed the anti-Balaka the upper hand, leading to the forced displacement of Muslim civilians by anti-Balaka in Bangui and western CAR. While comparisons were often posed as the "next
Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
", others suggested that the
Bosnian Genocide The Bosnian genocide ( bs, bosanski genocid) refers to either the Srebrenica massacre or the wider crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing campaign throughout areas controlled by the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) during the Bosnian War o ...
's may be more apt as people were moving into religiously cleansed neighbourhoods. Even as Séléka was closing in on the capital, clashes began in Bangui's PK5 neighborhood, where members of ethnic groups with ties to ''Séléka'' were attacked, such as the Gula. After the withdrawal of Séléka leaders from Bangui, there was a wave of attacks against Muslims with anti-Muslim pogroms and looting of Muslim neighborhoods, including the lynching of the Muslim former Health Minister Dr.
Joseph Kalite Joseph Kalite (died 24 January 2014) was a Central African politician. As a government minister he either held the housing or health portfolio. Kalite, a Muslim, was reported to be killed by anti-balaka outside the Central Mosque in the capital Ba ...
by Christian self-defence groups. Accounts state of lynch mobs, including that of uniformed soldiers, stoning or hacking Muslims then dismembering and burning their bodies in the streets. In 2014,
Amnesty International Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says it has more than ten million members and s ...
reported several massacres committed by the anti-balakas against Muslim civilians, forcing thousands of Muslims to flee the country. Other sources report incidents of Muslims being cannibalized. On 10 April, MISCA troops escorted over 1,000 Muslims fleeing to Chad with a police source saying "not a single Muslim remains in Bossangoa." The Muslim population of Bangui dropped 99% from 138,000 to 900. In 2015, Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said 417 of the country's 436 mosques had been destroyed, and Muslim women were so scared of going out in public they were giving birth in their homes instead of going to the hospital. Eric Danboy Bagale, head of former president
François Bozizé François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946) is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean- ...
's guard and head of the mostly Christian anti-Balaka militias, was arrested in Paris on 19 September,
2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in t ...
for war crimes in relation to revenge killings.


Ethnic violence

Much of the tension is also over historical antagonism between agriculturalists, who largely comprise Anti-balaka and nomadic groups, who largely comprise Séléka fighters. There was ethnic violence during fighting between the Ex-Séléka militias FPRC and UPC, with the FPRC targeting Fulani people who largely make up the UPC and the UPC targeting the Gula and
Runga ''Runga'' is a genus of Polynesian araneomorph spiders in the family Physoglenidae that was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1990. Species it contains five species, found on the Polynesian Islands: *'' Runga akaroa'' Forster, 1990 � ...
people, who largely make up FPRC, as being sympathetic to FPRC. In November 2016 fighting in Bria that killed 85 civilians, FPRC was reported targeting Fulani people in house-to-house searches, lootings, abductions and killings. Within the FPRC, the Gula wing attacked the Runga wing in Ndele in April 2020, with at least 25 people being killed.{{cite news, url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/30/dozens-killed-in-northeast-central-african-republic-clashes, title=Dozens killed in northeast Central African Republic clashes, date=30 April 2020, access-date=13 January 2021 It is also reported that in 2019, violence broke out in the northeastern region, where the killing of an ethnic
Kara Kara or KARA may refer to: Geography Localities * Kara, Chad, a sub-prefecture * Kára, Hungary, a village * Kara, Uttar Pradesh, India, a township * Kara, Iran, a village in Lorestan Province * Kara, Republic of Dagestan, a rural locality in Da ...
man sparked heavy fighting between the mainly Kara MLCJ and largely Runga FPRC.


Violence against aid workers and crime

In 2015, humanitarian aid workers in the CAR were involved in more than 365 security incidents, more than Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. By 2017, more than two-thirds of all health facilities have been damaged or destroyed.{{cite web, url=http://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/central-african-republic-clashes-could-trigger-humanitarian, title=Central African Republic clashes could trigger humanitarian 'catastrophe' – agencies, publisher=Relief Web, date=3 March 2017, access-date=4 March 2017, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303220309/http://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/central-african-republic-clashes-could-trigger-humanitarian, archive-date=3 March 2017, url-status=live The crimes are often committed by individuals not associated with any armed rebel groups. There have been jail breaks with more than 500 inmates escaping from Nagaragba Central Prison, including fighters of both Christian and Muslim militias. By 2017, only eight of 35 prisons function and few courts operate outside the capital. The international press freedom organization
Reporters Without Borders Reporters Without Borders (RWB; french: Reporters sans frontières; RSF) is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization with the stated aim of safeguarding the right to freedom of information. It describes its advocacy as found ...
said it was concerned that the rebel attacks were taking their toll on the ability of radio stations to operate in the CAR, with condemnation of the killing of journalist Elisabeth Blanche Olofio, who worked for Radio Bé-Oko which is part of a network of apolitical radio stations known as L'Association des Radios Communautaires de Centrafrique.


Fatalities


2013

Total fatalities were 2,286 – at least 2,396. :March to April — around 130 people killed in Bangui. 78 bodies in Bangui a week after captured by rebels. :12 June — villagers killed. :21 August — killed during the month.{{cite web , url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/publication-type/crisiswatch/crisiswatch-database.aspx?CountryIDs=%7b09F69924-3E63-461D-96FE-A0B25D54EFEB%7d , title=CrisisWatch Database , publisher=
International Crisis Group The International Crisis Group (ICG; also known as the Crisis Group) is a transnational non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 1995. It is a think tank, used by policymakers and academics, performing research and analysis on global ...
, access-date=2 January 2014 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705012149/http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/publication-type/crisiswatch/crisiswatch-database.aspx?CountryIDs=%7B09F69924-3E63-461D-96FE-A0B25D54EFEB%7D , archive-date=5 July 2016 , url-status=dead
{{Clarify, date=December 2022 :9 September — Bouca violence – 73-153 killed. :6 October — 14 killed. :9 October — 30-60 killed in clashes. :12 October — 6 killed. :December — 600+ killed in "Battle of Bangui", as antibalaka militias unsuccessfully attempt to overthrow Djotodia. Two children were beheaded with a total of 16 children killed in Bangui in late December.


2014

: 22 January — people were killed after gunmen in
Bouar Bouar is a market town in the western Central African Republic, lying on the main road from Bangui (437 km) to the frontier with Cameroon (210 km). The city is the capital of Nana-Mambéré prefecture, has a population of 40,353, while ...
attacked a convoy in an attempt to halt Muslim refugees trying to flee the violence. :February — 75 people were killed in the town of Boda, in
Lobaye Lobaye is one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. Its capital is Mbaïki. Emperor Duy Tân of Vietnam died here on December 26, 1945 in a plane crash. David Dacko, the first and third president of the Central African Republic f ...
province, according to a local priest. Anti-balaka militants attacked
Guen Guen is a village in the Mambéré Prefecture, Central African Republic. History Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said to be composed primarily of ...
resulting in the deaths of 60 people. As a result, hundreds of Muslim refugees sought shelter at a church in Carnot. :29 March — Chadian peacekeepers not a part of MISCA entered Bangui's PK12 district market and allegedly indiscriminately opened fire resulting in 30 deaths and over 300 injuries. :30 March — A Muslim throws a grenade at a group of Christian mourners resulting in 11 deaths. :May — Séléka rebels kill at least 30 at a Catholic church compound. : 23 June — Anti-balaka forces killed 18 at Bambari. Several Séléka then killed 10 anti-balaka. : 8 July — 17 people were killed when Séléka forces attacked a Catholic church in Bambari. :August — 34 people were reported killed by Séléka fighters around
Mbrès Mbrès is a sub-prefecture and town in the Nana-Grébizi Prefecture of the northern Central African Republic. History On 8 June 2016 four armed groups including Anti-balaka The Anti-balaka is an alliance of militia groups based in the Cent ...
.


2015

:September — At least 42 people were reported killed.


2016

: 25 October — people were reported killed in Bambari.


2017

:Anti-balaka attacked
Bangassou Bangassou is a city in the south eastern Central African Republic, lying on the north bank of the Mbomou River. It has a population of 24,447 (2003 census) and is the capital of the Mbomou prefecture. It is known for its wildlife, market, and near ...
, slaughtering dozens of Muslim civilians as well as 12 UN peacekeepers.


2019

:May — 3R massacres more than 50 people in several villages in the northwest.


2020

:February — Members of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central Africa (FPRC) attacked
MINUSCA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA, which is an initialism of its French name Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en Ce ...
forces in
Birao Birao is the capital of Vakaga, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic and was an administrative post in the colony of Ubangui-Shari. In March 2007, the town was almost completely burnt down in the fighting between rebels a ...
, leading to 12 FPRC forces being killed.{{cite news , url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/car-12-rebels-killed-clash-troops-200219055431824.html , publisher=
Al Jazeera Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazee ...
, title=CAR says 12 rebels killed in clash with UN troops , date=19 February 2020 , agency=
Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a French international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835 as Havas, it is the world's oldest news agency. AFP has regional headquarters in Nicosia, Montevideo, Hong Kong and Washington, ...
:April — At least 25 people killed in Ndele when the Gula faction of the FPRC attacked the Runga faction. :December — 3 UN peacekeepers from Burundi were killed in
Dekoa Dekoa (Dékoua) is a sub-prefecture and town in the Kémo Prefecture of the south-eastern Central African Republic. History In the nineteenth century freebooter Rabih az-Zubayr brought Dekoa under his sway and made it a part of the Bornu Empire. ...
{{Cite news, date=2020-12-26, title=UN peacekeepers killed in Central African Republic on eve of election, language=en-GB, work=BBC News, url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55451763, access-date=2020-12-26


2021

:January — One UN peacekeeper killed when CPC launched an attack on Bangui.


Displaced people

In May 2014, it was reported that around 600,000 people in CAR were internally displaced with 160,000 of these in the capital Bangui. By May 2014, 100,000 people had fled to neighbouring Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad. As of 2017, there are more than 1.1 million displaced people in a country of about 5 million people, the highest ever recorded in the country, with about half a million refugees outside CAR and about 600,000 internally displaced. Cameroon hosted the most refugees, more than 135,000, about 90% of whom are
Fulani The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, Fulani or Hilani; pt, Fula, links=no; wo, Pël; bm, Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. ...
, even though they constituted 6% of CAR's population. In December 2020, after a contested election rebels -known as the Coalition of Patriots for Change or the CPC have seized main roadways and prevented the flow of goods into Bouar. These and other similar efforts have caused an estimated 100,000 to leave their homes. A month later, January
2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October 2021 coup in Sudan; Crowd shortly after t ...
, the number had doubled to 200,000, including 92,000 refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 13,000 in Chad, the Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon.{{cite news , title=Central African Republic's capital in 'apocalyptic situation' as rebels close in , url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/central-african-republics-capital-apocalyptic-224036207.html , access-date=30 January 2021 , work=news.yahoo.com , publisher=BBC World News , date=30 January 2021


International response


Organizations

*
African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...
 –
Yayi Boni Yayi may refer to * China-Taiwan Yayi Cup, a Go competition *Thomas Boni Yayi Thomas Boni Yayi (born 1 July 1951) is a Beninese banker and politician who was President of Benin from 2006 to 2016. He took office after winning the March 2006 pres ...
, then-chairman of the African Union, held a press conference in Bangui, stating, "I beg my rebellious brothers, I ask them to cease hostilities, to make peace with President Bozizé and the Central African people ... If you stop fighting, you are helping to consolidate peace in Africa. African people do not deserve all this suffering. The African continent needs peace and not war."{{cite news, url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/french-troops-central-african-republic-18094338#.UOD-7W-1XDQ, title=African Union Head Visits Central African Republic, last=Marboua, first=Hippolyte, date=30 December 2012, work=ABC News, access-date=31 December 2012, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231054159/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/french-troops-central-african-republic-18094338#.UOD-7W-1XDQ, archive-date=31 December 2012, url-status=live Boni went on to call for dialogue between the current government and the rebels. The African Union suspended the Central African Republic from its membership on 25 March 2013. *{{flagu, European Union – On 21 December 2012 the High Representative for Foreign Affairs
Catherine Ashton Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, (born 20 March 1956), is a Labour Party (UK), British Labour politician who served as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of ...
called on the armed rebel groups to "cease all hostilities and to respect the Libreville Comprehensive Peace Agreement." European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid
Kristalina Georgieva Kristalina Ivanova Georgieva-Kinova ( bg, Кристалина Иванова Георгиева-Кинова; ; born 13 August 1953) is a Bulgarian economist serving as managing director of the International Monetary Fund since 2019. She was ...
added that she was deeply worried over the situation in the country and that she strongly urged "all armed groups to respect international humanitarian law and the activities of humanitarians". On 1 January Ashton once again expressed concern over the violence and urged all parties involved to "take all necessary measures to end, without delay, all exactions against populations in Bangui neighbourhoods that undermine chances of a peaceful dialogue." **On 10 February 2014, the European Union established a military operation entitled
EUFOR RCA European Union Force RCA, commonly referred as EUFOR RCA, is the United Nations-mandated European Union peacekeeping mission in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. The goal of the mission is to stabilize the area after more than a y ...
, with the aim "to provide temporary support in achieving a safe and secure environment in the Bangui area, with a view to handing over to African partners." The French Major General
Philippe Pontiès Philippe is a masculine sometimes feminin given name, cognate to Philip. It may refer to: * Philippe of Belgium (born 1960), King of the Belgians (2013–present) * Philippe (footballer) (born 2000), Brazilian footballer * Prince Philippe, Count ...
was appointed as a commander of this force. *{{flagu, United Nations – On 26 December 2012 the U.N. announced it was pulling all non-essential personnel out of the country due to the worsening security situation. In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon Ban Ki-moon (; ; born 13 June 1944) is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Ban was his country's Ministe ...
condemned the rebels' advance and warned that it had the potential to "gravely undermine the peace agreements in place." He also called on the government "to ensure the safety and security of U.N. personnel and its premises." On 31 January 2020, the
United Nations Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, ...
approved an extension of an arms embargo against the Central African Republic until 31 July 2020.


Countries

;Regional * {{flagu, Gabon/{{flagu, Chad/{{flagu, Cameroon/{{flagu, Congo/{{flagu, Equatorial Guinea sent troops in 2013 to make up an African Union Multinational Force for Central Africa (FOMAC) peacekeeping force in CAR. ;Others * {{flagu, Brazil – On 25 December 2012, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The enti ...
of Brazil issued a statement "urging the parties to observe an immediate cessation of hostilities and any acts of violence against the civilian population" and called for "the restoration of institutional legality in the Central African Republic". The Brazilian government stated that it had been in contact with the small number of Brazilian nationals residing in the country. * {{flagu, Estonia – On 9 May 2014, sent 55 troops to join the EU's EUFOR RCA mission. * {{flagu, Georgia – 140 troops joined EU's military mission in the Central African Republic.{{cite web, url=http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=27322, title=Civil.Ge – Georgian Troops Heading to EU Mission in Central African Republic, access-date=7 June 2014, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701132934/http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=27322, archive-date=1 July 2014, url-status=live * {{flagu, France – On 27 December 2012, CAR President Francois Bozizé requested international assistance to help with the rebellion, in particular from France and the United States. French President François Hollande rejected the plea, saying that the 250 French troops stationed at Bangui M'Poko International Airport are there "in no way to intervene in the internal affairs". Separately, a Foreign Ministry statement condemned "the continued hostility by the rebel groups", adding that the only solution to the crisis was dialogue. *{{flagu, South Africa – South Africa had numerous troops in the CAR since 2007. A
Special Forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equi ...
unit protected President Bozizé under Operation Morero and a second group trained FACA under Operation Vimbezela. Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula traveled to Bangui on 31 December 2012 to assess the situation. On 8 January 2013 the
South African National Defence Force The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister ...
deployed 200 additional troops to the CAR, half of the force authorized by President
Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...
. On 21 March President Bozizé traveled to Pretoria to meet with Zuma,{{cite news, last=AFP , title=Afrique du Sud: le président centrafricain Bozizé reçu par Zuma , agency=Agence France-Presse , location=Pretoria , access-date=31 March 2013 , date=22 March 2013 , url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gmGngIwQX3YyA1ZGb-Wq6lNC8pAQ?docId=CNG.a001582fa2ac6c6e42cdc154447481db.c81 , archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411021000/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gmGngIwQX3YyA1ZGb-Wq6lNC8pAQ?docId=CNG.a001582fa2ac6c6e42cdc154447481db.c81 , url-status=dead , archive-date=11 April 2013 allegedly to discuss the 72-hour ultimatum that the rebels had given him. {{cite news , last = Underhill , first = Glynnis , author2 = Mmanaledi Mataboge , title = CAR: Timely warnings were ignored , work = Mail and Guardian , access-date = 31 March 2013 , date = 28 March 2013 , url = http://mg.co.za/article/2013-03-28-00-car-timely-warnings-were-ignored/ , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130331024150/http://mg.co.za/article/2013-03-28-00-car-timely-warnings-were-ignored , archive-date = 31 March 2013 , url-status = live , df = dmy-all The South African troops from the 1 Parachute Battalion suffered 13 killed and 27 wounded while defending against the advancing Séléka. On 24 March 2013 SANDF soldiers began withdrawing to
Entebbe Entebbe is a city in Central Uganda. Located on a Lake Victoria peninsula, approximately southwest of the Ugandan capital city, Kampala. Entebbe was once the seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda prior to independence, in 1962. Th ...
air base, with the reported intention to return to the CAR to retake control from Séléka. * {{flagu, United States of America – On 17 December 2012 the
State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other na ...
's
Overseas Security Advisory Council The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, commonly known as Diplomatic Security (DS), is the security branch of the United States Department of State. It conducts international investigations, threat analysis, cyber security, counterterrorism, and p ...
published an emergency message warning US citizens about armed groups active in Mbrès and advising them to avoid travel outside Bangui. US Embassy personnel were prohibited from traveling by road outside the capital. On 24 December the State Department issued another warning. All non-essential personnel were evacuated, and the embassy switched to limited emergency consular services. On 28 December, the
United States Embassy The United States has the second most diplomatic missions of any country in the world after Mainland China, including 166 of the 193 member countries of the United Nations, as well as observer state Vatican City and non-member countries Kosovo a ...
in Bangui suspended operations due to the ongoing rebel attacks; with Ambassador Laurence D. Wohlers and his diplomatic staff evacuating the country. * {{flagu, Serbia – In accordance with Security Council's Resolution 2149,
Government of Serbia The Government of Serbia ( sr, Влада Србије, Vlada Srbije), formally the Government of the Republic of Serbia ( sr, Влада Републике Србије, Vlada Republike Srbije), commonly abbreviated to Serbian Government ( sr, � ...
approved engagement of
Serbian Armed Forces The Serbian Armed Forces ( sr, Војска Србије, Vojska Srbije) is the military of Serbia. The President of Serbia acts as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, while administration and defence policy is carried out by the Government ...
. On 20 September 2014 two military observers and two staff officers are deployed. Later, on 11 December 2014, 68 more personnel have been deployed in this mission. On 15 December 2016, Serbia deployed team for emergency medical assistance and level 1 medical team, as part of the EUTM RCA (European Union Training Mission).{{cite web, url=http://www.mnop.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=199&active=text, title=EUTM RCA- Serbian Armed Forces, date=15 December 2016, website=Official Portal of multinational missions, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728115156/http://www.mnop.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=199&active=text, archive-date=28 July 2017, url-status=dead, access-date=30 June 2017


See also

{{portal, Central African Republic, Current events, War * List of conflicts in Africa *'' Cahier Africain'', a documentary which provides one viewpoint on the conflict {{Clear


Notes

{{notelist


References

{{Reflist


Further reading


In Search of the State in the Central African Republic


External links


Centrafrique.comFull text of the Ceasefire Agreement signed 11 January 2013, UN PeacemakerFull text of the Declaration of Principles signed 11 January 2013 UN PeacemakerFull text of the Political Agreement on the resolution of the political and security crisis in CAR signed 11 January 2013, UN PeacemakerAll peace agreements for Central African Republic, UN PeacemakerResponse to the crisis in Central African Republic
via
FAO The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)french: link=no, Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture; it, Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite per l'Alimentazione e l'Agricoltura is an intern ...
in emergencies {{Central African Republic topics {{Post-Cold War African conflicts {{Ongoing military conflicts {{Humanitarian Aid, state=collapsed {{DEFAULTSORT:Central African Republic conflict (2012-14) Civil wars post-1945 2010s civil wars 2010s in the Central African Republic Central African Republic–Chad relations Civil wars involving the states and peoples of Africa Coup-based civil wars Conflicts in 2021 Religion-based civil wars Revolution-based civil wars Wars involving Chad Wars involving France Wars involving South Africa Wars involving Rwanda Wars involving Russia Wars involving the Central African Republic 2020s civil wars