The Central African Republic (CAR) has long been ravaged by armed conflicts between different armed groups. For about 10 years, the government and its allies have spared no effort to bring this confrontation to an end. However, at the precise moment when the situation seemed to have finally improved with the ascension to power of Faustin-Archange Touadera and the signing of the Khartoum Agreement in 2018, a new complication has arisen. It is now not only Central African rebels who carry out attacks, but also foreign forces, especially from Chad and Sudan. They are part of the armed groups coalition CPC (Coalition of Patriots for Change).
The questions that arise are: Why now? What do foreign rebels have to gain from meddling in CAR’s internal affairs?
It turns out that this is not exactly the will of the CPC rebels themselves to go to war, but a cunning plan of certain Central African political figures trying to sow chaos in the country to try to gain power by illegal means. In particular, François Bozize, former president of the CAR who was forbidden to run for president this year, is known to have already provoked a civil war in his country. It is alleged that this time, the violence organised throughout the Central African Republic is once again his doing.
As for the participation of foreign mercenaries in the clashes on Central African territory, it has bee suggested that this has been made possible by the close relations between Bozize and Chadian President Idris Deby. There is a body of evidence that indicates the presence of Chadian mercenaries among rebels in the Central African Republic. Information recently came to light after a rebel attack on January 21 on the village of Bondokpo, which was repulsed by allied forces. When the attackers fled, the CAR military found documents and items indicating Chadian interference. This evidence included photos of a CPC rebel with Chadian national army soldiers, a temporary customs card, vehicle data and internal customs codes.
Immediately following this, CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera informed President Idris Deby of Chad about the attacks of Chadian militants on CAR government troops. It was proposed to close the borders between the two countries to prevent the penetration of militants and the smuggling of weapons.
Another neighbour of the Central African Republic, Sudan, is already taking action in this respect. The Khartoum authorities have blocked the road to Amdafok, a border town, to limit the infiltration of militants into the CAR. This is because Sudanese mercenaries had previously taken part in the attacks among rebels in the Central African Republic.
