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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD

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

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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. [...]

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. [...] (2401 words)

Issue dated 30/05/2022 Reading time 10 minutes

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

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Politics

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CHAD
3R
Abdoulaye Garba
Ahmed Kogri
Ali Darass
Amadou Bi Aliou
Baba Ladde
Coalition of Patriots for Change
Faustin-Archange Touadéra
Firmin Ngrebada
François Bozizé
Hassan Bouba
Idriss Déby
International Criminal Court
Kaka
Koro Toro
Mahamat Abdoul Kadré Oumar
Mahamat Idriss Deby
Mahamat Nouri
Minusca
Omar al-Bashir
Ousmanou Mohamadou
Popular Front for Recovery
Séléka
Sempé Bobo
Sidiki Abass
Souleymane Daouda
Special Criminal Court
Timan Erdimi
Union for Peace in the Central African Republic
United Nations
Valery Zakharov
Wagner

Wagner's phantom reinforcements

It was supposed to have been one of the outcomes of the United Nations (UN) Security Council's easing of its arms embargo on the Central African Republic (CAR) on 30 July. [...]

Noureddine Adam, the chief of the FPRC, poses in Birao, northern Central African Republic, on December 20, 2017. © Alexis Huguet / AFP

Spotlight

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC SUDAN Defence Politics 06/09/2022

CAR rebel chief Noureddine Adam seeks to rally dissident groups in country's north

The leader of the FPRC militia has left Khartoum, Sudan, where he was living. At the same time, once rival rebel groups appear to be regrouping in CAR's diamond-rich Vakaga province where the rebellions began. [...]

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 30/06/2022

Ex-CAR defence minister Jean-Jacques Demafouth back in the fray

Jean-Jacques Demafouth is back on active duty after a five-year break. The 63-year-old is about to be appointed ambassador to the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in Burundi. [...]

Former minister Jean-Jacques Demafouth in 2011 in Bangui.

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). [...]

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 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 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 02/12/2021

Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

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. [...]

Central African livestock minister Hassan Bouba in February 2021.

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 Diplomacy 17/11/2021

Bangui's high-stakes gamble with rebel groups

At Luanda's instigation, several heads of the armed groups that last year joined a rebel coalition recently signed an initial deal with the government. But Bangui suspects two holdouts of rapidly rearming via neighbouring states. [...]

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD SUDAN Diplomacy 21/10/2021

Baba Laddé, master spy of the three borders

By installing the former rebel leader Baba Laddé as its head of intelligence, N'Djamena is hoping to keep a close eye on all its neighbours. His appointment comes amid tensions within the ANS intelligence agency run by Ahmed Kogri. [...]

Undated photo of Chadian intelligence director Baba Laddé.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD Diplomacy 30/04/2021

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Under Idriss Déby, Chad became a major influence in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), where it has close links with rebel groups. President Touadéra, who is concerned about the connections of new Chadian strongman "Kaka" in his country, is closely monitoring Déby's son and would-be heir. [...]

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC RUSSIA 18/07/2018

Moscow sets its sights on the gold and diamonds

The Central Africans have begun extraction operations at several alluvial diamond sites located between Boda and Gadzi, not far from [...]

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics 24/10/2012

Bozize closes ranks

The recent sacking of two of the Central African Republic leader Francois Bozize’s former right-hand men has unsettled nerves at the presidential Palais de la Renaissance. [...]

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CHAD
3R
Abdoulaye Garba
Ahmed Kogri
Ali Darass
Amadou Bi Aliou
Baba Ladde
Coalition of Patriots for Change
Faustin-Archange Touadéra
Firmin Ngrebada
François Bozizé
Hassan Bouba
Idriss Déby
International Criminal Court
Kaka
Koro Toro
Mahamat Abdoul Kadré Oumar
Mahamat Idriss Deby
Mahamat Nouri
Minusca
Omar al-Bashir
Ousmanou Mohamadou
Popular Front for Recovery
Séléka
Sempé Bobo
Sidiki Abass
Souleymane Daouda
Special Criminal Court
Timan Erdimi
Union for Peace in the Central African Republic
United Nations
Valery Zakharov
Wagner

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Frank Timis's Senegal feint

Pretoria, Kigali and Maputo act out their rivalry in gas-rich Cabo Delgado

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

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 31)

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Wagner's phantom reinforcements

CAR rebel chief Noureddine Adam seeks to rally dissident groups in country's north

Ex-CAR defence minister Jean-Jacques Demafouth back in the fray

Wagner takes on local hires

Former rebel Baba Laddé puts his political party on the map

The spy battle behind Baba Laddé's eviction

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

Moscow appoints new envoy as Wagner reorganises its mercenaries

Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

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

Bangui's high-stakes gamble with rebel groups

Baba Laddé, master spy of the three borders

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Moscow sets its sights on the gold and diamonds

Bozize closes ranks

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Frank Timis's Senegal feint

Pretoria, Kigali and Maputo act out their rivalry in gas-rich Cabo Delgado

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

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 31)

2 options offered to continue reading

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Wagner's phantom reinforcements

CAR rebel chief Noureddine Adam seeks to rally dissident groups in country's north

Ex-CAR defence minister Jean-Jacques Demafouth back in the fray

Wagner takes on local hires

Former rebel Baba Laddé puts his political party on the map

The spy battle behind Baba Laddé's eviction

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

Moscow appoints new envoy as Wagner reorganises its mercenaries

Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

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

Bangui's high-stakes gamble with rebel groups

Baba Laddé, master spy of the three borders

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Moscow sets its sights on the gold and diamonds

Bozize closes ranks

Set up email notifications for these topics

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: