Patriotic Rally for the Renewal of the Central African Republic

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Patriotic Rally for the Renewal of the Central African Republic
Rassemblement Patriotique pour le Renouveau de la Centrafrique
LeadersDamane Zakaria (until 2022)
Herbert Gontran Djono Ahaba[1]
Dates of operation2014–2022
Split fromSéléka
HeadquartersTiringoulou
Bria (until 2021)
Active regionsHaute-Kotto, Vakaga, Bamingui-Bangoran subprefectures
AlliesMLCJ
OpponentsFPRC (sometimes)
Russia Wagner Group (since 2022)
Battles and wars2020 N'Délé clashes

Patriotic Rally for the Renewal of the Central African Republic (RPRC, French: Rassemblement Patriotique pour le Renouveau de la Centrafrique) was an armed group in the Central African Republic based in northern part of the country, in Ouadda and Sam Ouandja in Haute-Kotto and Tiringoulou in Vakaga.[2]

History[edit]

RPRC military vehicle in N'Délé, 11 March 2020

RPRC was formed in November 2014 as a split faction from FPRC armed group. It was initially based in Bria.[2] In October 2016 RPRC created coalition together with FPRC, MPC and Anti-balaka against UPC.[2] In June 2017, infighting broke out between RPRC and FPRC leading to distancing between those two groups.[2] In May 2018 RPRC formally reconciled with UPC armed group.[2] As of 2018, RPRC reportedly controlled Bria-Ouadda road, maintaining checkpoints alongside the road and taxing import 1,400$ and export 25,000$.[3]

In February 2019, RPRC was one of the signatories of peace agreement with the government.[2] On 28 May 2019 splinter group from RPRC, Party of the Rally of the Central African Nation, was created.[4]

Main article: 2020 N'Délé clashes

In March 2020, RPRC together with MLCJ attacked N'Délé, stronghold of FPRC. On 11 March 2020, more than 40 civilians were killed in attack on N'Délé. On 29 April, RPRC and MLCJ once again attacked N'Délé killing 37 civilians. They were eventually forced to withdraw on 10 May.[2] On 19 May, MINUSCA arrested nine RPRC fighters in N'Délé including general Azor Kalité while they were trying to escape to Tirigoulou. They were transferred two days later to Bangui. They have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.[5] On 25 May, MINUSCA arrested two RPRC fighters 16 km from N'Délé followed by another two days later including general Amar.[6]

On 12 February 2022, the group's leader, Damane Zakaria, together with 20 other RPRC fighters, was killed by Russian mercenaries in Ouadda.[7] On 4 December 2022 official dissolution of the group was signed in Bangui.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Centrafrique : qui sont ces rebelles qui ont mis les soldats FACA en débandade à Ouanda-Djallé, 19 June 2022
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Central African Republic Control Map & Timeline - July 2021
  3. ^ Central African Republic: A Conflict Mapping
  4. ^ Jayne Grodd (2019-08-01). "S/2019/608 Letter dated 30 July 2019 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2454 (2019) addressed to the President of the Security Council" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  5. ^ "RCA : arrivée à Bangui du général Azor Kalité et ses 8 éléments arrêtés par la Minusca à Ndélé". 22 May 2020.
  6. ^ "RCA : Ndélé, arrestation du célèbre général Amar, un important stratège de la coalition RPRC-MLCJ-PRNC". 27 May 2020.
  7. ^ Le chef rebelle Zakaria Damane , allié du pouvoir, et une vingtaine de ses hommes abattus par les hommes de Wagner, 13 February 2022
  8. ^ Centrafrique : Quatre groupes armés actuellement dans le gouvernement renoncent à leurs mouvements, 7 December 2022
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