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 seized power in 2003, the Central African Republic Bush War (2004–2007) began with the rebellion by the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) in northeastern Central African Republic, CAR, led byCourse of the conflict
{{See also, Timeline of the Central African Republic Civil WarToppling Bozizé (2012–2013)
Formation of Séléka
In August 2012 a peace agreement was signed between the government and the CPJP. On 20 August 2012, an agreement was signed between a dissident faction of the CPJP, led by Colonel Hassan Al Habib calling itself CPJP#Fundamental CPJP, 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", in memory of the CPJP founder who was allegedly tortured and murdered by the government, and that his group intended to overthrow François Bozizé, Bozizé. In September, Fundamental CPJP, using the French name ''Alliance CPSK-CPJP,'' took responsibility for attacks on the towns of Sibut, Damara, Central African Republic, Damara and Dekoa, killing two members of the army. It claimed that it had killed two additional members of theForeign troops and ceasefire agreement
On 30 December, President François Bozizé, Bozizé agreed to a possible national unity government with members of theFall of Bangui
{{Main, Battle of Bangui On 18 March 2013, the rebels, having taken over Gambo, Central African Republic, Gambo and Bangassou, 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 African soldiers to leave the country were not met within 72 hours. Three days later, they took control of the towns of Damara, Central African Republic, Damara and Bossangoa. By 23 March, they entered Bangui.{{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 , 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 Renaissance Palace, Presidential Palace in the centre of the capital. The Presidential Palace and the rest of the capital soon fell to rebel forces and François Bozizé, Bozizé fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo,{{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 troops stationed in Central African Republic, CAR remained in the country. A company of France, French troops secured Bangui M'Poko International Airport 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 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 Michel Djotodia, 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 Nicolas Tiangaye, Tiangaye, with 34 members, appointed on 31 March 2013, included nine members ofEx-Séléka and Anti-balaka fighting (2014–2020)
On 27 January,Rebel alliance and advance
2020 Central African general election, Presidential and legislative elections were scheduled for 27 December 2020. Former President François Bozizé had announced his return to the country in December 2019 and his intent to run in the presidential election. Bozizé, of the Gbaya people, Gbaya, 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, 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 theRussian mercenaries and government offensives (January 2021-present)
Since January 2021, due to the actions of Russia's Neo-Nazism, neo-Nazi-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 , volume=15 , issue=6 , pages=28–37 , publisher=Combating Terrorism Center , location=West Point, New York , 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 , 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, publisher=NBC, 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."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 Rwandan genocide, Rwanda", others suggested that the Bosnian Genocide'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 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 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's guard and head of the mostly Christian anti-Balaka militias, was arrested in Paris on 19 September, 2020 in Middle Africa, 2020 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 Kara people, Gula and Aiki language, Runga people, who largely make up FPRC, as being sympathetic to FPRC. In November 2016 fighting in Bria, Central African Republic, 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 people, Kara 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 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 , 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 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, Lobaye, Boda, in Lobaye province, according to a local priest. Anti-balaka militants attacked Guen resulting in the deaths of 60 people. As a result, hundreds of Muslim refugees sought shelter at a church in Carnot, Central African Republic, 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.2015
:September — At least 42 people were reported killed.2016
: 25 October — people were reported killed in Bambari.2017
:Anti-balaka attacked Bangassou, 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) attacked2021
: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, 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 in the Central African Republic, 2021, 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 2021International response
Organizations
*African Union – Yayi Boni, 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 of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton called on the armed rebel groups to "cease all hostilities and to respect the Libreville Comprehensive Peace Agreement." European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Kristalina Georgieva 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 entitledCountries
;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 External Relations (Brazil), Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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 South African military assistance to the Central African Republic, numerous troops in the CAR since 2007. A South African Special Forces, Special Forces 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 deployed 200 additional troops to the CAR, half of the force authorized by PresidentSee also
{{portal, Central African Republic, Current events, War *List of conflicts in Africa *''Cahier Africain'', a documentary which provides one viewpoint on the conflict {{ClearNotes
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External links