Haut-Mbomou on the Brink and Unseen Power Struggles

In the southeastern Central African Republic (CAR), the resurgence of armed clashes around Zémio has reached a critical peak. Twenty-four hours after a violent gunfight carried out by Azandé militiamen, a Russian helicopter—engaged in stabilization operations—became stranded deep in the forest, apparently hit by gunfire and trapped by impassable terrain. This dramatic incident underscores the extreme vulnerability of foreign air support in an area where government control is almost non-existent, raising serious doubts about the operational capabilities of these reinforcements.

Following the resumption of fighting at Koumboli, several transport and attack helicopters, redeployed from Bangui to secure Zémio, were exposed to accurate fire from the militiamen. In the gravest case, one transport helicopter, struck during an emergency landing, resulted in the pilot being severely injured and an interpreter suffering a headshot. Recovery operations have been further delayed by the continued presence of Azandé forces around the site. As the CAR Armed Forces (FACA) and Russian mercenaries consolidate their positions in central Zémio, insurgents entrenched on the periphery turn every rescue or repair operation into a perilous gamble.

Simultaneously, the Ndjamena agreement—brokered between the Central African government and the armed groups, 3R (Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation), and UPC (Union for Peace in the Central African Republic) —has sparked intense criticism. Falsely touted as an instrument of pacification, it mirrors the rivalries and divergent interests of its architects. Many observers contend that the document is designed more to preserve the status quo for regional and international backers than to address the underlying causes of the conflict. This opacity further fuels sentiments of a superficial diplomacy that is disconnected from local realities and fails to ensure the population’s security.

Beyond Zémio, tensions are spreading to Mboki and Obo. A joint FACA–Wagner detachment that departed from Mboki for Obo had to turn back at Kadjemah after learning that Russian-trained Azandé soldiers had deserted; the unit is now stationed at Kpabou, awaiting orders on whether to establish a new base, pursue the deserters, or reinforce its position against the militiamen. In Obo, the threat of an imminent attack has triggered an exodus of numerous civilians toward the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while roughly two hundred Azandé militiamen—some of whom had briefly integrated into official ranks only to return to the bush—are preparing for a potential offensive.

On the administrative front, an investigation by the newspaper Expansion, published on May 6, has implicated Vice-Prefect Romaric Sangou Zirani as the catalyst behind a separatist project. Allegedly operating under the guise of a “provisional council,” he worked to create an “Azandé empire” complete with its own flag and anthem, extending even into parts of South Sudan and the DRC. Supported by local deputies and, according to some sources, Zirani is accused of having encouraged looting, forced disappearances, and targeted violence against Muslim communities in the name of “restoring order.”

This spiralling escalation—characterized by shootings, a stranded Russian helicopter, contentious negotiations in Ndjamena, secessionist ambitions, and rumours of external interference—illustrates how many obstacles remain on the path to lasting peace in Haut-Mbomou. In a context where ethnic rivalries, local political ambitions, and international power plays are deeply intertwined, the Central African Republic struggles to assert state authority and protect its citizens. The urgency now lies in reconciling diplomatic efforts with ground-level security measures, lest a further fragmentation—at the expense of civilians—becomes inevitable.