 | Result: Ongoing. Séléka rebel coalition takes power from François Bozizé.; Fighting between Séléka factions and Anti-balaka militias.; President Michel Djotodia resigns. Interim government is followed by an elected government. De facto split between Ex-Séléka factions controlled north and east and Anti-balaka controlled south and west with a Séléka faction declaring the Republic of ... en.wikipedia.org |
Russian mercenaries and government offensives (since January 2021)
Since January, with the help of Russian mercenaries, the rebels have been on the retreat for the first time in years.[204] On 25 January 2021, CAR forces, backed by Russian PMCs and Rwandan troops, attacked Boyali, killing 44 rebels who were plotting an assault on the capital.[205] Subsequently, CAR forces, supported by the Russian contractors and Rwandan troops, captured a number of strategic towns throughout February 2021, including Bossembele, Bouar, Beloko and Bossangoa. As the rebels were being pushed back, Valery Zakharov urged them to hand over their leaders to the CAR's security forces.[206][207][208][209] During the fighting, the rebel Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) claimed its fighters killed several Wagner PMCs and captured one when they destroyed their truck near Bambari on 10 February.[210] Government advances, with the support of Russian and Rwandan forces, continued during March, April and May 2021.[211][212][213][214][215] This included the capture of the strategic towns of Bria and Kaga-Bandoro[216][217] and the Bakouma sub-prefecture.[218] Some towns were also seized solely by the Russian PMCs,[219][220][221] including Nzacko.[222] In at least one instance, the contractors reportedly included Syrians.[221] Mid-May, the Russians captured a village about 40 kilometers from Bambari during fighting that left 20 people dead.[223] In addition, at the end of the month, Russian and Syrian PMCs of the Wagner Group attacked a rebel checkpoint at the entrance of a village 28 kilometers from Bria, killing three CPC fighters.[224] Towards the end of July, the CAR military was leaving the frontline against the CPC to the PMCs. The plan was for government troops to occupy the captured positions after they had been secured by the contractors.[225] The increase in influence by Russia at the expense of France in its former colony led to a disinformation campaign on facebook between the two powers and France suspending aid and military cooperation with the CAR government in May 2021.[226] On March 25, 3R rebel leader Sidiki Abass, whose group is accused of war crimes, had succumbed to his injuries in the northern part of the country.[227] In April 2021, the UPC, then the biggest of the armed rebel groups,[228] withdrew from the CPC[229] and asked to talk with the government which has declined so far.[204] The rebels were seen to be moving away from cities and towards peripheral areas and turning to guerilla tactics instead of open fighting.[230] A state of emergency was declared in January 25, and President Tuoadera has been accused of using that opportunity to crack down on opponents and consolidate power. Pro-Tuoadera militias known as the "Sharks" and "7th Territorial Infantry Battalion" are alleged to have been involved in disappearances of members of Bozizé's party and former president Catherine Samba-Panza as well as challengers of Touadéra in the recent polls, Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Martin Ziguélé, report being prevented from exiting the country.[204] On 5 October 2021 34 civilians were killed by alleged UPC rebels in Matchika village near Bambari.[231] Between 6 and 16 December 2021 Anti-balaka fighters from pro-government faction killed number of Muslim civilians in Boyo commune for their alleged links with UPC rebels. On 16 and 17 January 2022 Russian mercenaries killed at least 65 civilians in Aïgbado and Yanga villages.[232]
kenneth harrow
professor emeritus
dept of english
michigan state university
517 803-8839
harrow@msu.edu
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2022 7:47 PM
To: Harrow, Kenneth <harrow@msu.edu>; USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: wagner group on the make/on the take?
History Department, Central Connecticut State University
www.africahistory.net
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2022 12:22 PM
To: Emeagwali, Gloria (History) <emeagwali@ccsu.edu>; USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: wagner group on the make/on the take?
Please be cautious: **External Email**
kenneth harrow
professor emeritus
dept of english
michigan state university
517 803-8839
harrow@msu.edu
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2022 11:58 AM
To: Harrow, Kenneth <harrow@msu.edu>; USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: wagner group on the make/on the take?
Prof. of History/African Studies, CCSU
africahistory.net; vimeo.com/ gloriaemeagwali
Recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Research
Excellence Award, Univ. of Texas at Austin;
2019 Distinguished Africanist Award
New York African Studies Association
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2022 9:44 PM
To: USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - wagner group on the make/on the take?
Please be cautious: **External Email**
 | French FM accuses Russian mercenaries of 'despoiling' Mali. Le Drian says Russian company Wagner is exploiting the country's resources in exchange for protecting the military government. www.aljazeera.com |
kenneth harrow
professor emeritus
dept of english
michigan state university
517 803-8839
harrow@msu.edu
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