The Central African Republic (CAR) has grappled with profound instability since at least 2004, when a three-year civil war engulfed the nation, followed by continuous battles against insurgent groups. In an effort to restore order, the government extended an invitation to Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group to serve as trainers in early 2018.
By 2019, Wagner had deployed over 1,000 mercenaries to the Central African Republic, who became deeply embedded within the country’s political, economic, and social structures. Their operations primarily targeted the extraction of gold, diamonds, and timber. This involvement catalyzed the emergence of a conflict economy, where these mercenaries and other factions systematically exploit the nation’s perpetual chaos.
Wagner not only forcibly infiltrated local markets through intimidation but also secured a significant foothold within President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s government, even installing a Russian national as a senior security advisor.
In 2021, Wagner, alongside government forces, initiated a nationwide military campaign. While ostensibly aimed at stabilization, this operation quickly evolved from counter-insurgency into a broader endeavor for territorial, political, and economic consolidation.
Today, the combined efforts of government and Wagner forces have fundamentally reshaped the economy. What once provided sustenance for rebel groups has been reoriented into networks that bolster the Touadéra administration and enrich Russia.
Local elites, collaborating with their foreign security partners, assimilated armed groups, and various economic actors, have leveraged coercion and organized crime to solidify their power, control vital resources, and advance their financial interests. This transformation has turned the Central African Republic into a pivotal platform for powerful transnational criminal networks. Other nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, and Turkey, also exert influence within the CAR.
The engagement of Russian mercenaries in the CAR is undeniably transactional. Their expanding presence is designed to integrate security, economic, and political control over natural resources, thereby ensuring Russia’s long-term influence in the region.
With Russian backing, President Touadéra has significantly consolidated his political authority. Actors linked to Wagner and their allies have become deeply integrated into key ministries, security agencies, customs administration, and strategic resource sectors. Far from delivering stability, the actions of Bangui and Moscow have instead intensified and systematized patterns of coercion, resource extraction, and predation.
Gains made by the government against armed groups have not eradicated the
