Central African Republic

List of Central African Republic articles

A silhouette is shown from the back, looking on at a fire.
A silhouette is shown from the back, looking on at a fire.

Why the World’s Deadliest Wars Go Unreported

Too much news is routed through London and New York. The capitals of the global south need to step up.

A demonstrator holds a Russian flag while sitting on a motorcycle during a march in support of Russia's and China's presence in the Central African Republic in Bangui on March 22.
A demonstrator holds a Russian flag while sitting on a motorcycle during a march in support of Russia's and China's presence in the Central African Republic in Bangui on March 22.

Beijing Doesn’t Know Who to Blame for Gold Mine Murders

The attack in the Central African Republic may tie back to rebels—or Russian mercenaries.

People fleeing violence in Mali walk through the weekly market in the M'Berra refugee camp in Bassikounou, Mauritania, on June 7, 2022.
People fleeing violence in Mali walk through the weekly market in the M'Berra refugee camp in Bassikounou, Mauritania, on June 7, 2022.

How Russia’s Wagner Group Is Fueling Terrorism in Africa

Moscow’s scramble for valuable resources has come at the cost of regional security.

A Rwandan soldier watches fishermen as they come back to the shore in Mocímboa da Praia, in the Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique, on Sept. 27, 2022.
A Rwandan soldier watches fishermen as they come back to the shore in Mocímboa da Praia, in the Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique, on Sept. 27, 2022.

How Rwanda Became Africa’s Policeman

From Benin to Mozambique, President Paul Kagame is flexing his small country’s military muscle—and transforming the continent’s security landscape.

Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra addresses supporters during a rally of the United Hearts Movement political party at the Omnisport Stadium in Bangui on March 18.
Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra addresses supporters during a rally of the United Hearts Movement political party at the Omnisport Stadium in Bangui on March 18.

Will Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Impact the Central African Republic?

Wagner Group mercenaries have transformed the conflict, but the country is still far from a workable peace deal.

A U.N. peacekeeper keeps guard in Bria in the Central African Republic.
A U.N. peacekeeper keeps guard in Bria in the Central African Republic.

Putin Resorts to Syrian Mercenaries in Ukraine. It’s Not the First Time.

The Kremlin has been recruiting thousands of hardened Syrian fighters to join its war in Ukraine.

Peacekeepers go on patrol
Peacekeepers go on patrol

In Central Africa, Russia Won the War—but It’s Losing the Peace

Putin’s pursuit of influence, arms sales, and mercenary meddling in the Central African Republic has left Moscow mired in a quagmire.

A Russian armored personnel carrier in the Central African Republic
A Russian armored personnel carrier in the Central African Republic

Russia’s Wagner Group Doesn’t Actually Exist

And that makes it all the more challenging to get to grips with.

Truck at a roadblock in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Truck at a roadblock in Democratic Republic of the Congo

It’s the Roads, Stupid

Armed checkpoints along key trade routes—not natural resources—are the key to financing rebel groups and insurgencies around the world.

A MINUSCA soldier
A MINUSCA soldier

Only Central Africans Can Save the Central African Republic

The international community can help rebuild the army and institutions, but its presence cannot be permanent.

The president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra
The president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra

Why Did the Central African Republic Declare a State of Emergency?

The country’s postelection violence threatens a humanitarian catastrophe—and a continued standoff between Russia and France for influence in Central Africa.

Soldiers with the United Nations stabilization mission in Central African Republic patrol in PK12 district, south of downtown Bangui, Central African Republic, on Jan. 13.
Soldiers with the United Nations stabilization mission in Central African Republic patrol in PK12 district, south of downtown Bangui, Central African Republic, on Jan. 13.

Outside Powers Are Making the Conflict in the Central African Republic Worse

Proxy wars pitting France and Chad against Russia and Rwanda threaten to destabilize the entire region while subjecting Central Africans to more violence and instability.

Children gather in Bangui, Central African Republic
Children gather in Bangui, Central African Republic

Child Soldiers Are Helping End a Forever War

Children are at the center of the Central African Republic’s efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic—and to break the country’s cycles of violence.

Jean Ghodjendji radios back to colleagues at an advance post during a foot patrol in Bamingui-Bangoran National Park in the Central African Republic while fellow rangers scan the forest on May 18.
Jean Ghodjendji radios back to colleagues at an advance post during a foot patrol in Bamingui-Bangoran National Park in the Central African Republic while fellow rangers scan the forest on May 18.

Central Africa’s Rangers Are as Threatened as the Animals They Guard

Park staff struggle to protect the animals—and themselves—against poachers and militias.

Members of the Cameroonian Gendarmerie patrol in Omar Bongo Square in Buea, Cameroon’s majority-Anglophone southwestern province’s capital, during a political rally for incumbent President Paul Biya on Oct. 3. (Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images)
Members of the Cameroonian Gendarmerie patrol in Omar Bongo Square in Buea, Cameroon’s majority-Anglophone southwestern province’s capital, during a political rally for incumbent President Paul Biya on Oct. 3. (Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images)

Cameroon’s Paul Biya Gives a Master Class in Fake Democracy

One of the world’s most experienced autocrats has clinched another seven-year term by bending the rules of the game in his direction in ways both old and new.

A United Nations  peacekeeper speaks to a child while on patrol through the streets Gao, Mali on August 3, 2018.
A United Nations peacekeeper speaks to a child while on patrol through the streets Gao, Mali on August 3, 2018.

Peace Is the Best Investment

U.N. member states must renew their commitment to the vital peacekeeping operations that end wars, protect civilians, and save lives.

U.N. peacekeepers from Gabon patrol in Bria, Central African Republic, on June 12, 2017.
U.N. peacekeepers from Gabon patrol in Bria, Central African Republic, on June 12, 2017.
foreign-policy-invisible-children
foreign-policy-invisible-children

Kony 2017: From Guerrilla Marketing to Guerrilla Warfare

Five years after its viral video broke the internet, Invisible Children is on the front line of a covert war against the Lord’s Resistance Army.

car-crop
car-crop

French Peacekeepers Pull Out as New Violence Erupts in the Central African Republic

France just ended its mission in the CAR, leaving the country with scandal-plagued U.N. peacekeepers.

GettyImages-84081969
GettyImages-84081969

The U.S. Slaps Joseph Kony’s Kids With New Financial Sanctions

The infamous LRA warlord and his sons still have not been caught.

Loading graphics

Welcome to a world of insight.

Make the most of FP.

Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. Explore the benefits included in your subscription.

Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below. Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below.

Choose a few newsletters that interest you. Get more insight in your inbox.

Here are some we think you might like. Update your newsletter preferences.

  • World Brief thumbnail
  • Africa Brief thumbnail
  • Latin America Brief thumbnail
  • China Brief thumbnail
  • South Asia Brief thumbnail
  • Situation Report thumbnail

Keep up with the world without stopping yours. Keep up with the world without stopping yours.

Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Download the new FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere.

Download on the App Store
  • Read the magazine
  • Save articles (and read offline)
  • Customize your feed
  • Listen to FP podcasts
Download on the Apple App Store
Download on the Google Play Store

Analyze the world’s biggest events. Analyze the world’s biggest events.

Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with

See what’s trending. See what’s trending.

Most popular articles on FP right now. Most popular articles on FP right now.