In Focus | Central African Republic, Chad
From Bangui to N'Djamena, the secret war of the Fula's 'defenders'

Central African Republic
Livestock minister Hassan Bouba hit by travel ban

The minister, who is close to Russia, seems to be falling out of favour with President Touadéra. Earlier this month, he was prevented from leaving the country to receive medical treatment.

The New Guard
Nigeria, Kenya, Central African Republic

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

NigeriaO'tega Ogra, his master's digital voice

KenyaGranville Wafula sets tech to work for music industry

Central African RepublicAmadou Dahirou, from molecular biology to the livestock ministry

Central African Republic
UPC rebel group takes steps towards potential disarmament

One of CAR's largest armed groups is participating in talks with the government with a view to disarming. Meanwhile, the rebel group's main adversaries on the ground, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, have not been invited to talks scheduled in Chad in the coming weeks.

Central African Republic
A discreet Chinese firm investigates the killing of nine miners working for Royal Cost Gold

Last week's unclaimed deadly attack on a mining site run by Chinese citizens in Chimbolo has sent shockwaves through the Chinese community, which is very active in this sector. An economic intelligence firm is looking into the activities of armed groups in the area.

Central African Republic
Washington proposes Brazzaville and Bissau for ex-president François Bozizé's exile

The US is currently engaged in advanced negotiations to convince CAR's president, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, to break with the Russian paramilitary armed group Wagner, and has offered to sponsor Bozizé's departure from Chad.

Central African Republic
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.

Central African Republic
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.