Sam Ouandja is a town located 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 ...

prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...

Haute-Kotto Haute-Kotto is one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. Its capital is Bria. It is the largest prefecture in the Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in C ...

near the border with

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 ...

. It has historically served as important arms trafficking hub for armed groups in Central African Republic. Artisanal diamond mining is also active in the commune.Letter dated 27 January 2021 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2536 (2020) addressed to the President of the Security Council
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History

Since 2006 Sam Ouandja has been under control of different rebel groups led by Damane Zakaria, including

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),

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 most recently ''Rassemblement patriotique pour le renouveau de la Centrafrique'' (RPRC). It was captured by UFDR on 13 November 2006. The town has been used by different groups for trafficking weapons from Sudan, including pistols, rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers and ammunition. In December 2012, along with

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 ...

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 ...

, Seleka captured Sam Ouandja. On 18 August 2022, rebels withdrew from Sam Ouandja following arrival of MINUSCA peacekeepers.

References

Populated places in Haute-Kotto {{CentralAfricanRepublic-geo-stub