State Collapse in the Central African Republic
In March 2013 the Seleka, a coalition of mainly Muslim armed groups from the north-east, captured Bangui and deposed President Francois Bozize. Their leader Michel Djotodia became the country's first Muslim head of state, then formally disbanded the coalition he could not control. Seleka fighters preyed on the largely Christian population of the west and south, and self-defence militias known as the anti-balaka formed in response and turned on Muslim civilians, driving most of them out of the west of the country entirely. France intervened with Operation Sangaris in December 2013 and the UN deployed MINUSCA in 2014. Neither restored the state's authority beyond the capital: armed groups continued to control most of the territory and the revenue from gold, diamonds and cattle taxation that funded them. From 2018 the government turned to Russia. Wagner Group personnel arrived as instructors and then as combat forces, compensated substantially through mining concessions rather than cash. Russian support was decisive in repelling a rebel offensive on Bangui around the 2020 elections. France ended its military presence in 2022. A 2023 referendum removed presidential term limits.
- Year: 2013 CE
- Category: Civil War
