Spotlight | Central African Republic, Chad
Déby's Bangui trip offers Russia a chance to renew partnership bid

Chad
French army makes a quiet return to N'Djamena

A handful of French officers returned to N'Djamena in mid-April to revive cooperation with the Chadian army, at a time when the partnership with Turkey is faltering.

Chad
Manara Radio Télévision knocks out national media

Created one year ago and endowed with substantial financial resources, media group Manara Radio Télévision (MRTV) maintains close ties with the Chadian presidency.

Central African Republic
Ex-minister and rebel Armel Sayo sees entourage arrested

Armel Sayo, accused of wanting to overthrow Faustin-Archange Touadéra and detained in Cameroon, has had several members of his close entourage, including family, placed in custody over the past few months. The detainees have been transferred to different prisons in the capital.

Chad, Sudan
The winding arms supply routes from Beijing to N'Djamena via Abu Dhabi

Chad has taken delivery of the latest generation of Chinese anti-aircraft defence systems. They were supplied by the UAE, which is regularly criticised over their support for the Rapid Support Forces that are battling the regular Sudanese army in the civil war.

Cameroon, Central African Republic
Russian fuel donation to CAR remains stuck in Cameroon

Russia's donation of fuel to CAR remains in Cameroon, which fears some of it could be sold on the local market and possibly spark US sanctions. Neptune Oil has been tasked with getting it to Bangui.

Central African Republic
Armel Sayo avoids extradition to Bangui

The authorities have failed in their appeal to Cameroon to hand over the rebel leader. Having founded an armed group in northern CAR just a few months ago, he has been held in Yaoundé's central prison since January.

Central African Republic
Touadéra to set up eastern tribunal to handle communal violence

The eastern Central African Republic town of Zemio, which suffered violent inter-communal clashes in 2024, is to get a new tribunal to try the crimes committed there.

Central African Republic
Wagner's astonishing payments to CAR rebels revealed in new book

In the new book "Death Is Our Business", out in March, US journalist John Lechner reveals the behind the scenes of the negotiations between Wagner's Yevgeny Prigozhin and Central African armed groups' leaders.

Central African Republic
Voter registration disrupted by armed groups

Around 20 security incidents against agents of the national electoral authority have occurred since voter registration for next year's ballots began last month.

Chad, Mauritania
EU to supply drones to N'Djamena and Nouakchott

Expertise France has launched a tender call to supply two surveillance drone systems to Chad and another to Mauritania.

Central African Republic
Wagner in show of force to counter France-CAR rapprochement

France and the Central African Republic's improving of relations is coming up against Russian diplomatic and propaganda counter-offensives. Meanwhile, the mercenary group Wagner is resurgent in the African country.

Sudan
French foreign minister shuns Port Sudan to avoid legitimising SAF leader

His officials redirected him to Chad instead to avoid sending out an ambiguous message.

Palace Intrigues
Joe Biden, Mahamat Idriss Déby, Faustin-Archange Touadéra

Intrigues big and small – every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

SenegalDakar airport used as rear base for Biden's Angola visit

ChadMahamat Idriss Déby and select few announce end of military pact with Paris

Central African RepublicTouadéra pays final tribute to ex-minister Duchemin

Central African Republic
Touadéra nurtures Moscow relations ahead of ministerial talks

The CAR foreign minister is due in Sochi in the second week of November.

Chad
President Déby calls on US private military company

The Chadian president is playing a delicate diplomatic and military balancing act between Russia and the United States.

Chad
Mahamat Idriss Déby pays strategic visit to Moscow

Chad's junta leader had several securocrats with him when he visited the Russian capital at Vladimir Putin’s invitation from 23 to 25 January.