Africa: Central African Republic

CAR has suffered several violent crises since 2003 when former president Francois Bozize seized power in a coup; the UN flag is seen in New York September 23, 2019. By Ludovic MARIN (AFP)

UN renews C.Africa peacekeeping mission

Nov 16, 2019

The United Nations Security Council extended the UN's peacekeeping mission in the violence-plagued Central African Repub ...

Diamonds are forever, embargoes not so much. By LEON NEAL (AFP)

Russia wants end to embargo on C.Africa diamonds

Nov 12, 2019

Russia backs lifting an embargo on diamond exports from the Central African Republic, the deputy finance minister said T ...

Since September, Birao has been hit hard by fighting between armed groups despite a peace agreement. By Camille LAFFONT (AFP)

Birao's militia powderkeg in north Central African...

Nov 9, 2019

A heavy silence hangs in the dusty alleys of Birao, in the extreme northeast of Central African Republic, where figures ...

Fisherman Edouard walks among the flooded ruins of his house in Bangui.

C.Africans watch mud homes dissolve in devastating...

Oct 29, 2019

The Central African Republic was already struggling with a humanitarian crisis. Then the floods came. Ten days of tor ...

Rains have pounded the Central African Republic for several days, causing the Oubangui River and its tributaries to overflow. By FLORENT VERGNES (AFP)

Flooding in Central African Republic leaves at lea...

Oct 29, 2019

The worst flooding in two decades in the Central African Republic has left at least 28,000 people homeless, the country' ...

Protection: Russian bodyguards provide security for CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera. By FLORENT VERGNES (AFP)

C.African ties highlight Russian strategy in Afric...

Oct 23, 2019

The Central African Republic is an important plank in Russia's strategy of boosting its presence in Africa by offering s ...

A patient awaits surgery in the hospital of the Zapai camp for displaced people in northern DR Congo. By FLORENT VERGNES (AFP)

Stranded: C. African exiles and rebel 'tax' collec...

Oct 11, 2019

The hospital at Zapai, a camp for displaced Central Africans in northern DR Congo, is so makeshift that patients have to ...

A combat helicopter used by the United Nations peackeepers in the Central African Republic crashed while returning from an

UN peacekeeping helicopter crashes in C.Africa, 3 ...

Sep 28, 2019

Three Senegalese crew were killed and a fourth was injured when a combat helicopter used by United Nations peacekeepers ...

Ngaissona is charged with coordinating the so-called anti-Balaka militia. By Koen van Weel (POOL/AFP/File)

Football chief led 'violence and terror' in C.Afri...

Sep 19, 2019

A top Central African Republic football official and a militiaman nicknamed Rambo led a campaign of violence and terror ...

After hard years living abroad, Central African refugees are coming home with UN help, clutching to the hope that the latest peace pact will hold. By Camille LAFFONT (AFP/File)

Exhausted C. Africans leave exile for unknowns at ...

Sep 11, 2019

Under the tarpaulin shading the back of the lorry, the heat is still stifling on a rough road for some 30 refugees trave ...

French President Emmanuel Macron with Central African Republic's President Faustin-Archange Touadera after talks in Paris on Thursday.. By ludovic MARIN (AFP)

C.Africa president defends peace deal despite clas...

Sep 5, 2019

A peace accord aimed at ending years of violence in the Central African Republic remains solid, the country's president ...

Protector: A ranger dons a facemask to help him follow the tracks of a gorilla, a famously elusive species. By FLORENT VERGNES (AFP)

Hunters turn gamekeepers to help C. Africa's threa...

Aug 30, 2019

Jean moves deftly through the tangle of roots and branches before waiting for the rainforest to give him a clue. In t ...

Mahamat Al Khatim is leader of the Patriotic Movement for Central Africa (MPC) and one of the most powerful militia warlords. By FLORENT VERGNES, FLORENT VERGNES (AFP)

C.Africa militia chief quits govt in blow to peace...

Aug 27, 2019

The leader of one of the main Central African militia groups resigned from his government post on Tuesday, dealing a blo ...

A sport known as ngbaba that is unique to the Central African Republic has been hauled back from near-death. By FLORENT VERGNES (AFP)

Ngbaba, a sport lost in time, returns to battered ...

Aug 27, 2019

Two teams confronted each other on the dusty sports field, wielding roughly cut sticks to whack a homemade puck at high ...

A MINUSCA patrol in the Central African Republic secures a truck experiencing engine failure on the road between Bouar and Bangui in October 2017. By FLORENT VERGNES (AFP/File)

UN threatens sanctions over C.Africa peace pact vi...

Aug 24, 2019

The United Nations special envoy for the Central African Republic on Friday threatened sanctions for violations of a pea ...

Despite a peace deal six months ago, Central African rebels and militias continue to thwart hopes for stability. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)

C.Africa militias abuse peace deal to tighten grip...

Aug 14, 2019

After years of bloodshed in the poor and largely lawless Central African Republic, renewed hopes of peace are being erod ...

Members of the 3R armed group launched a series of attacks on villages near the northwestern town of Paoua in May. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)

C.Africa special court to try suspects in civilian...

Jul 31, 2019

Three suspects in the massacre of 46 civilians in Central African Republic will be tried before a special court created ...