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A young boy fastens the harness to his donkey at the Birao market, northern Central African Republic
Image: Alexis Huguet/AFP/Getty ImagesImage: Alexis Huguet/AFP/Getty Images

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked nation in the center of the African continent that borders Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan.

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All Content on this topic

Protests in Nairobi

AfricaLink News: 02 July 2024

Kenya protests continue ++ France: National Rally eyes governing after elections ++ US: Donald Trump to keep immunity
PoliticsJuly 2, 202403:17 min
DW Dokumentationen | Gracia, Messi von Bangui - Ein Leben für den Fußball

Gracia, Messi of Bangui - Football for future

18-year-old Gracia has one great passion: playing soccer.
EqualityMay 31, 202442:34 min
People salvage a boat in Bangui, the Central African Republic, April 19, 2024.

CAR: Over 50 drown after boat capsizes in Mpoko river

The boat passengers were reportedly on their way to a funeral when the boat sank.
CatastropheApril 21, 2024
A group of people sits in inside an olde bus

CAR child refugees dream of a better future

More than a million people have fled their homes in the volatile Central Africa Republic. Not all have given up hope.
ConflictsApril 16, 2024
Ghana Widnaba Flüchtlinge aus Burkina Faso

Africalink on Air - 07 March 2024

Ghana sees influx of Togolese fleeing jihadis+++Cameroon chief helps CAR refugees+++Chad on the brink before elections
PoliticsMarch 7, 202429:58 min
Several men hold up Burkinabe and Russian flag during a demostration

After Wagner, Russia makes new military plans in Africa

With the collapse of the Wagner Group, Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a new Africa Corps.
PoliticsFebruary 9, 2024
Central African President Faustin-Archange Oouadera and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands

US firm Bancroft eyes Wagner Group's influence in CAR

Central Africa Republic's desperate scramble for security partners heightens risks
PoliticsJanuary 4, 2024
Central African Republic opposition politician Crepin Mboli-Goumba, coordinator of the BRDC opposition alliance, speaks to DW.

CAR opposition groups reject referendum

Opposition groups in the Central African Republic have rejected a referendum they call a "constitutional coup."
PoliticsAugust 9, 202303:23 min
A man casts his ballot in Bangui

Central African Republic holds vote to abolish term limits

The proposed new constitution would allow President Faustin-Archange Touadera to seek a third term lasting seven years.
PoliticsJuly 30, 2023
DW Still | Russisch Orthodoxe Kirche in der Zentralafrikanische Republik

Russian influence proliferates in Central African Republic

Russia’s influence is burgeoning in the Central African Republic, and beyond.
SocietyJuly 27, 202303:03 min
A man on a motorbike waves a Russian flag in the streets of Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso

Fact check: Russia's influence on Africa

Russia uses various tools to increase its influence in Africa. DW's fact check looks at some of the narratives.
PoliticsJuly 27, 2023
Vladimir Putin and Cyril Ramaphosa sitting next to each other

Where do Russia's ties with Africa stand?

Russia is doubling down on its efforts to strengthen ties with countries in Africa.
PoliticsJuly 25, 2023
Statue in Bangui consisting of four soldiers holding up their weapons at a target

Wagner forces return to CAR before divisive referendum

The CAR is confident its July 30 referendum will go ahead — with the help of Russia's Wagner mercenaries.
PoliticsJuly 19, 2023

African WWII veteran feels abandoned by France

Moussa Yakite, a WWII veteran who fought for France.
SocietyJuly 3, 202301:41 min
Protesters holds a banner reading "Merci Wagner" (Thank you Wagner") during a demonstration in Bamako

Wagner Group operations in Africa

There's evidence that mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group operate in at least four African countries.
PoliticsJune 30, 202303:00 min
Russian Wagner Group mercenaries in northern Mali

AfricaLink on Air — 30 June 2023

Story of the Week: How Wagner PMC's future in Africa hangs in the balance.
ConflictsJune 30, 202329:59 min
Supporters of Capt. Ibrahim Traore parade wave a Russian flag in the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

How could Wagner Group revolt impact Africa?

Could the conflict between Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Putin spill over into Africa?
ConflictsJune 29, 202302:12 min
Sudanese refugees ride donkeys towards the boundary with Chad

How the Sudan crisis threatens the entire Sahel

The conflict in Sudan could have dangerous repercussions throughout the region, experts warn.
ConflictsMay 10, 2023
Gold miners in the Ndassima gold mine, 40 kilometers of Bambari, in the Eastern part of Central African Republic

CAR: Several killed in attack on Chinese mine

Rebels suspected of the storming have denied their involvement and blamed Russia's Wagner group, without evidence.
BusinessMarch 19, 2023
An undated photograph handed out by French military shows Russian mercenaries boarding a helicopter in northern Mali

EU sanctions Russian Wagner Group for African operations

Members of the mercenary company were included in the sanctions package for alleged crimes committed in Africa.
ConflictsFebruary 26, 2023
A UN peacekeeper pictured standing gaurd at Central African Republic's border post with Cameroon

CAR: Militiamen found guilty of village massacre

A UN-backed court in the Central African Republic said the men showed no remorse over the attack which killed 46 people.
ConflictsOctober 31, 2022
Dr. Harrison Mwilima

Amid other crises, we must not forget global hunger

Harrison Mwilima
After decades of global hunger reduction, progress has nearly come to a halt. The issue should not be forgotten.
Food SecurityOctober 13, 2022
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) with Congolese President Felic Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame

Africa seeks a greater role on the global stage

More African leaders are calling for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
PoliticsSeptember 28, 2022
Mahamat Said Abdel Kani enters the court room of the International Criminal Court in The Hague

CAR rebel leader pleads not guilty at Hague

Former rebel commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani faces up to 30 years imprisonment if found guilty in the ICC.
Law and JusticeSeptember 26, 2022
Mahamat Said Abdel Kani at the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Central African rebel denies war crimes at ICC

Mahamat Said Abdel Kani is accused of torturing prisoners when the Sekela rebel group took power in 2013.
ConflictsSeptember 26, 2022
The Gara store on tablet and cell phone

A customized app store for Africa's game developers

Teddy Kossoko created Gara, an app store for African creators, after realizing standard options didn't suit their needs.
InnovationJuly 29, 2022
In this December 2017 photo Noureddine Adam, the chief of the FPRC, poses in Birao, northern Central African Republic

ICC wants former CAR security minister arrested

Mahamat Nouradine Adam is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity and is still leading a rebellion.
ConflictsJuly 28, 2022
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov holding a document with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

Russia's reengagement with Africa pays off

As African nations remain silent on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the strengthened ties seem to be a winning strategy.
PoliticsJuly 26, 2022
A Doctors Without Borders (MSF) nurse pictured at a community hospital in Bangui

Central African Republic: MSF condemns killing of employee

Doctor’s Without Borders said one of its staff members was shot dead by a government soldier, and has called on the coun
ConflictsMay 31, 2022
For nearly 30 years, Nicole Nangbei has been helping women give birth

Mother opens maternity clinic in CAR

DW's Zigoto Tchaya reports on a woman who has opened a maternity clinic in Central African Republic.
HealthMay 6, 202202:37 min
Bitcoin symbol on a coin

Bitcoin boom spikes amid perceived risks

Central African Republic has made Bitcoin legal tender. Experts warn that nations that adopt cryptos risk instability.
BusinessMay 5, 2022
A woman walks past a burnt house in Bagui

HRW cites evidence of CAR massacre

"Russian-identified forces" may have executed civilians in the Central African Republic, Human Rights Watch has said.
CrimeMay 3, 2022
Nigeria Wahlgesetz

AfricaLink on Air - 28 April 2022

Nigeria senate vote to stop ransom to kidnappers +++ The Central African Republic adopts bitcoin as legal tender
April 28, 202230:00 min
Lawyers at a support march for the special court

C. African Republic: Long-awaited war crimes trial postponed

The inaugural trial of the Special Criminal Court was boycotted by the lawyers defending the accused militia members.
ConflictsApril 19, 2022
Here a woman is pictured walking past the debris of a house allegedly burnt down by anti-Balaka forces. Archive image from 2014.

Central African militia leader surrendered to ICC

Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
PoliticsMarch 15, 2022
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC-BANGUI-ELECTIONS-CAMPAIGN

AfricaLink on Air — 08 February 2022

Central African Republic fires Prime Minister+++World marks safer internet day+++ Foreign students stranded Ghana
PoliticsFebruary 8, 202230:00 min
Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army fighters

The last throes of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army

The Lord's Resistance Army seems ready to lay down its arms. But leader Joseph Kony wants CAR citizenship in return.
ConflictsJanuary 24, 2022
Weihnachtslieder

AfricaLink on Air – 22 December 2021

Looking ahead to Christmas around Africa +++ Empowering women through paid work +++ A scary oil project in Namibia
PoliticsDecember 22, 202129:59 min
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'Bekilita' NGO empowers women in CAR

Olive Michele Dol-Somse helps women in the Central African Republic seek financial literacy.
SocietyDecember 11, 202102:28 min
Exterior view of the International Criminal Court

CAR: Potential war criminal trial confirmed by ICC

The crimes alleged against Mahamat Said Abdel Kani ​include torture, persecution and enforced disappearances.
Human RightsDecember 10, 2021
UN armored personnel keeping guard in Bangui, CAR

UN: 10 unarmed peacekeepers shot by CAR presidential guard

The peacekeepers were shot after their arrival in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.
ConflictsNovember 2, 2021
Zentralafrikanische Republik UN Blauhelm Soldat

Central African war crimes suspect awaits ICC decision

Mahamat Said, a former leader of a militia group, faces 14 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
PoliticsOctober 24, 2021
Central African Republic Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada

CAR government dissolves

The prime minister decided to leave just a few months after the Central African Republic president was re-elected.
PoliticsJune 10, 2021
Fleeing residents in Bangui

Why UN missions are failing in Africa

Foreign military interventions in Africa are in the spotlight for failing to end conflicts at the continent's hot spots.
PoliticsJune 3, 2021
Central African Republic troops

Chad accuses CAR of war crime

Chad has accused the CAR army of attacking a military outpost on the border, before killing a number of soldiers.
ConflictsMay 31, 2021
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Counting on capoeira

The playful martial art capoeira is helping get traumatized kids off the streets in the Central African Republic.
SocietyApril 26, 202103:07 min
external

Counting on Capoeira

A playful acrobatic martial art is being used to get violent kids off the street.
SocietyApril 17, 202103:09 min
A Russian military vehicle

Russians accused of rights violations in CAR

Central African Republic relies heavily on Russian mercenaries to fight rebels but at the expense of human rights.
PoliticsApril 14, 2021
external

CAR woman builds classrooms

DW meets Jeanette Santili who, against all odds, pushes for children to have a better chance.
March 18, 202103:10 min
CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera

CAR legislative runoff held amid tight security

Officials hope stepped-up security measures will prevent the same violence that marred the first-round vote.
PoliticsMarch 14, 2021