Central African Republic: Don’t Reward Warlords. With ample supplies of diamonds, gold, uranium, and oil, Central African Republic (CAR) should be thriving and rank as one of the world’s richest nations. Anthony FOUCHARD In the war-torn Central African Republic, former rebels who mounted a coup in 2013 are now dreaming of independence. Abdoulaye Hissène, the FPRC’s military leader, is based in the northeastern town of Ndélé, but is massing his troops at the gates of Bangui.Although the prospect of a fresh coup seems unlikely, everyone is wondering about a possible partition of the country.
But instead, it suffers from abject poverty and competition between rival warlords. The Central African Republic (CAR), a country that has seen more than four years of deep political crisis and unprecedented violence against civilians, is undergoing a process of de facto partition. The climate is tense, but in the meantime, Abdoulaye Hissène knows very well that the weak army cannot dislodge him. FRANCE 24’s reporters James André and Anthony Fouchard went to meet one of the most powerful armed groups in the country, in the capital of their parallel state in the north. The Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (known by its French acronym FPRC) is one of the most powerful armed groups. The rebels prefer to talk about federalism and autonomy. FRANCE 24’s reporters James André … "My men are in Bangui, they are just waiting for the political green light," he says. CAR gained its independence from France under the strong leadership of Barthelemy Boganda.
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, the Since being routed, the rebels have been divided and fragmented, but have maintained their ability to cause trouble. In February 2014, then-U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the international community that CAR was at risk of splitting apart, stating that, “[T]he situation continues to worsen. UN force arrests warlord in Central African Republic Senior member of Seleka armed group, eight of his militiamen involved in killings in April in Ndele region Ahmet Emin Donmez | 21.05.2020 In the war-torn Central African Republic, former rebels who mounted a coup in 2013 are now dreaming of independence. The FPRC now wants to improve its image, severely tarnished after the violence of 2013.The rebels are literally sitting on a gold and diamond mine, the northeast being rich in natural resources. “MINUSCA carried out the arrest of nine armed elements Tuesday" in the Ndele region,” said Vladimir Monteiro, the spokesperson for the mission in the country.Azor Kalite has played a key role in violence in the northeastern region, including fighting at the end of April between splinter groups of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of CAR which left 28 people dead, including 21 civilians.Kalite is also a former senior member of the Seleka coalition that overthrew President Francois Bozize in 2013.Thousands of people died in 2013 during clashes between Christian anti-Balaka rebels and members of the Seleka group, a predominantly Muslim militia. Although they control all the main roads, provide security and even levy taxes, they do not want to create the impression of cutting ties with the central government, which does not consider the north a priority. Forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA) have arrested a warlord and eight members of his militia, an official said Wednesday.