Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic (FPRC, french: Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique) is a rebel group 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 ...
which controls areas of the northern part of the country, until 2021 based in
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 ...
.
History
The FPRC was formed on 10 July 2014 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 ...
, consolidating the member forces' control over the northern prefectures. They were one of the parties of the February 2019 peace deal. In September 2019, they lost control of Birao. On 17 February 2020 FPRC fighters tried to recapture Birao by attacking local MINUSCA forces. Their attack was repelled and 12 fighters were killed.
On 17 December 2020, an FPRC faction led by Noureddine Adam joined 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 ...
, while the faction led by Abdoulaye Hissene remained committed to the 2019 peace agreement. Pro-CPC forces of general Mahamat Salleh took control of
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 ...
on 31 December 2020 and then
Bangassou on 3 January 2021.
Organization
The FPRC operates a
parallel state
The "parallel state" is a term coined by American historian Robert Paxton to describe a collection of organizations or institutions that are state-like in their organization, management and structure, but are not officially part of the legitimate ...
in the northern part of the Central African Republic. They have their own police, gendarmes, prisons, and military bases. They also collect taxes and fees. They profit from gold and diamond mines in areas they control including
Ndassima
Ndassima is a gold mine in Ouaka preferecture in 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, Sou ...
mine, which they share control with the UPC.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Central African Republic: The way of the warlord France24
Factions of the Central African Republic Civil War
Rebel groups in the Central African Republic
Rebel groups that actively control territory