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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

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AFRICA

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

Russia's influence on the continent is spreading in step with rising instability in many African countries and tensions between France and many of its former colonies. This trend is bolstered by the presence of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group close to Vladimir Putin. Its mercenaries have intervened in Libya and Mozambique and are now offering their services in West and Central Africa. Driven by the Kremlin, Russia's security breakthrough in Africa is also backed by the defence ministry, serving Moscow's geopolitical interests, and paving the way for Russia to move into other fields on the continent.

Central African livestock minister Hassan Bouba in February 2021. © La France à Bangui/Twitter

By targeting one of the emblematic figures of the Central African Republic conflict - livestock minister and former rebel leader Hassan Bouba - the Bangui special criminal court has thrown a spanner into an already uneasy mix of peace deals, jittery financial backers and Russian mercenaries. [...] (988 words)

Issue dated 02/12/2021 Reading time 4 minutes

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Politics

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Ali Darass
Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène
Baba Ladde
European Union
Faustin Archange Touadéra
Firmin Ngrebada
François Bozizé
Gilbert Toumou Deya
Hassan Bouba
Herbert Gontran Djono Ahaba
Idriss Déby
International Criminal Court
International Monetary Fund
Popular Front for Recovery
Séléka
Souleymane Daouda
Union pour la paix en Centrafrique
United Nations Development Programme
Wagner
World Bank

Asmara to build its first solar farm

Eritrea is planning to make up for its low national electrification rate by turning to renewable energy.

EGYPT Diplomacy 07/11/2022

Little sign of progress over $100bn global South adaptation fund

The host country of COP27 has been working hard to try to secure a commitment from global North countries to finance climate change adaptation in the global South. But no preliminary agreement has been reached on this issue, which will be discussed from today.

CENTRAL AFRICA GABON Diplomacy 29/06/2022

Francophonie secretary of state Zacharopoulou to visit Libreville

The French Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, will travel to Libreville from 5 to 8 July.

French secretary of state Chrysoula Zacharopoulou.

President of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera on September 17, 2021, in Bangui. © Barbara Debout/AFP

Spotlight

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Finance Politics 22/06/2022

Bitcoin project splits Touadéra's entourage

The Central African president is trying to speed up his cryptocurrency project, despite scepticism from some of his ministers. The local director of the Bank of Central African States, Ali Chaibou, is one of the doubters and has secretly sought the advice of former IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC NIGER Diplomacy 21/06/2022

World Bank names new country managers

Han Fraeters, the World Bank's representative in Central African Republic, is leaving his current role for a new posting in Niamey in Niger. He will replace Joelle Dehasse there, who left for Panama in March.

MADAGASCAR Business 13/06/2022

Private sector hopes for OHADA membership for sunnier business climate

As a World Bank report published on 1 June expresses concerns about the business climate in Madagascar, the country's private sector is still hopeful Madagascar will join OHADA, an organisation of 17 Africa states bound by a system of business laws.

Rebel leader Ali Darass, head of the Union pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC). © Gaël Grilhot/AFP

In Focus

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD Politics 30/05/2022

From Bangui to N'Djamena, the secret war of the Fula's 'defenders'

Rebel leaders Baba Laddé, Ali Darass and Hassan Bouba have proclaimed themselves defenders of the Fula, a community widely shunned within the region, in a strategy of self-defence that handily fits in with their own interests.

Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadera. © Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Wire/Alamy Live News

Spotlight

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Finance Politics 10/05/2022

Touadéra banks on bitcoin to avert bankruptcy

After loudly making bitcoin legal tender in CAR, the country's president is expected in Dubai at the end of the week to oversee the launch of a cryptocurrency mining company. The aim is to ensure that civil servants can be paid in July, at a time when state coffers are empty.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Defence Politics 12/04/2022

Wagner takes on local hires

For several months, the Russian paramilitary group has been recruiting and training veterans of the Anti-Balaka and Seleka militias in the hinterland.

CHAD Politics 30/03/2022

Former rebel Baba Laddé puts his political party on the map

On Thursday 31 March, former rebel leader Mahamat Abdoul Kadré Oumar, better known as Baba Laddé, will inaugurate the brand new headquarters of his party, the Popular Front for Recovery (FPR).

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 15/03/2022

EU considers resumption of financial aid to Bangui

The European Union has not ruled out resuming financial support for Central African Republic. An EU delegation was in Bangui last week to discuss how it might resume the payment of budgetary support, estimated at €30m.

Spotlight

AFRICA Politics 08/03/2022

IMF sets up anti-corruption unit and ponders making governance a condition for lending

The international financial institution is considering incorporating governance and anti-corruption into the conditionality of its lending programmes and for first time in its history has set up an anti-corruption unit.

CHAD Politics 23/02/2022

The spy battle behind Baba Laddé's eviction

Former Fulani rebel leader Baba Laddé, whose real name is Mahamat Abdoul Kadré Oumar, was dismissed on 15 February from his post as director of intelligence and investigations.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics 04/02/2022

Caught in a crossfire between Wagner and creditors, PM Dondra presents his resignation

Breaking news published 04/02/22 at 19:35 - Prime Minister Henri-Marie Dondra has presented his resignation to President Faustin Archange Touadéra, who is expected to respond upon his return from Addis Ababa where he is attending the African Union summit.

Central African Prime Minister Henri-Marie Dondra submitted his resignation in early February 2022.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 12/01/2022

Angolan and Rwandan heads of diplomacy to pay official visit to Bangui

Originally scheduled for 23 December, the visit to Bangui of Angolan and Rwandan foreign ministers Tete António and Vincent Biruta will take place this Friday 14 January.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC RWANDA Defence Diplomacy 03/01/2022

EU plans to place troops trained by its military mission in CAR under Rwanda's supervision

The EU's training mission in CAR has been suspended since the beginning of December, however ways to revive it are currently being examined. Cooperation with the Rwandan army is one route being considered in Paris, but implementing this would be challenging.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 24/12/2021

Moscow appoints new envoy as Wagner reorganises its mercenaries

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is about to appoint a new ambassador to Bangui after six months of dithering. The Russian paramilitary group Wagner is meanwhile reorganising itself in the Central African Republic under the leadership of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dimitri Utkin, who have both been in Bangui in recent months.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov with President Vladimir Putin.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics 09/12/2021

The secret mission of Guy Moskit, Touadéra's new special adviser

The Central African Republic president appointed the former journalist in early December to help keep watch on his opponent Karim Meckassoua's movements. Moskit knows the former speaker of parliament very well.

Guy Moskit has been appointed as special adviser to Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Business 29/11/2021

Three firms at work to complete Castel's investigation into Sucaf RCA

Firms Gide Loyrette Nouel, ADIT and Mazars should complete the report commissioned by beverage giant Castel into its subsidiary Sucaf RCA by the end of the year. Sucaf was accused by the NGO The Sentry of funding the militia group UPC.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD Finance Politics 22/11/2021

IMF splashes out for some CEMAC states but leaves N'Djamena and Bangui hanging

Since the beginning of the year, the International Monetary Fund has signed support programmes with four of the six countries in the oil-dependent and Covid-weakened Central African monetary zone. But its talks with Chad and the Central African Republic have stalled.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 17/11/2021

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Ali Darass
Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène
Baba Ladde
European Union
Faustin Archange Touadéra
Firmin Ngrebada
François Bozizé
Gilbert Toumou Deya
Hassan Bouba
Herbert Gontran Djono Ahaba
Idriss Déby
International Criminal Court
International Monetary Fund
Popular Front for Recovery
Séléka
Souleymane Daouda
Union pour la paix en Centrafrique
United Nations Development Programme
Wagner
World Bank

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Algerian secret services in survival mode in North Mali

As fight against M23 continues, Kigali and Kinshasa wage war of intelligence

Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Asmara to build its first solar farm

Little sign of progress over $100bn global South adaptation fund

Francophonie secretary of state Zacharopoulou to visit Libreville

Bitcoin project splits Touadéra's entourage

World Bank names new country managers

Private sector hopes for OHADA membership for sunnier business climate

From Bangui to N'Djamena, the secret war of the Fula's 'defenders'

Touadéra banks on bitcoin to avert bankruptcy

Wagner takes on local hires

Former rebel Baba Laddé puts his political party on the map

EU considers resumption of financial aid to Bangui

IMF sets up anti-corruption unit and ponders making governance a condition for lending

The spy battle behind Baba Laddé's eviction

Caught in a crossfire between Wagner and creditors, PM Dondra presents his resignation

Angolan and Rwandan heads of diplomacy to pay official visit to Bangui

EU plans to place troops trained by its military mission in CAR under Rwanda's supervision

Moscow appoints new envoy as Wagner reorganises its mercenaries

The secret mission of Guy Moskit, Touadéra's new special adviser

Three firms at work to complete Castel's investigation into Sucaf RCA

IMF splashes out for some CEMAC states but leaves N'Djamena and Bangui hanging

Bangui's high-stakes gamble with rebel groups

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

Baba Laddé, master spy of the three borders

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Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 12.50)

2 options offered to continue reading

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Asmara to build its first solar farm

Little sign of progress over $100bn global South adaptation fund

Francophonie secretary of state Zacharopoulou to visit Libreville

Bitcoin project splits Touadéra's entourage

World Bank names new country managers

Private sector hopes for OHADA membership for sunnier business climate

From Bangui to N'Djamena, the secret war of the Fula's 'defenders'

Touadéra banks on bitcoin to avert bankruptcy

Wagner takes on local hires

Former rebel Baba Laddé puts his political party on the map

EU considers resumption of financial aid to Bangui

IMF sets up anti-corruption unit and ponders making governance a condition for lending

The spy battle behind Baba Laddé's eviction

Caught in a crossfire between Wagner and creditors, PM Dondra presents his resignation

Angolan and Rwandan heads of diplomacy to pay official visit to Bangui

EU plans to place troops trained by its military mission in CAR under Rwanda's supervision

Moscow appoints new envoy as Wagner reorganises its mercenaries

The secret mission of Guy Moskit, Touadéra's new special adviser

Three firms at work to complete Castel's investigation into Sucaf RCA

IMF splashes out for some CEMAC states but leaves N'Djamena and Bangui hanging

Bangui's high-stakes gamble with rebel groups

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

Baba Laddé, master spy of the three borders

Set up email notifications for these topics

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: