The Central African Republic Conflict
A neutral, source-attributed briefing on the Central African Republic — armed groups, a fragile peace, and foreign security involvement.
Last updated: 2026-09-20 · Evergreen briefing — the live map and the headlines below carry the latest developments.
Key locations: Central African Republic
Central African Republic map: control status, coordinates and every tracked location →
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Banguicity4.3947, 18.5582
Capital of the Central African Republic on the Ubangi River, seat of the government and site of a July 2025 ceremony marking a ceasefire with armed groups.
Control: Central African Republic government forces, alongside Russian security personnel (Wagner/Africa Corps) and UN MINUSCA peacekeepers — Human Rights Watch, World Report 2026, as of 2026-02-04Stale
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Biraocity10.2833, 22.7833
Remote capital of Vakaga prefecture in the far northeast, near the borders with Chad and Sudan, historically difficult for the state to secure.
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Briacity6.5423, 21.9862
Capital of Haute-Kotto prefecture and a diamond-mining center that has repeatedly been contested by armed factions competing for mining revenue.
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Bambaricity5.7639, 20.6767
Central Ouaka prefecture capital and one of the country's larger interior towns, a historic base for former Seleka factions.
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Bangassouborder4.7397, 22.8206
Southeastern town on the Mbomou River across from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a cross-border trade and displacement route.
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Paouacity7.2417, 16.4392
Northwestern town that was a longtime stronghold of the 3R armed group before its 2025 ceasefire and dissolution.
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Berberaticity4.2667, 15.7833
Southwestern regional center near the Cameroonian border, a commercial hub for the country's timber-producing region.
Key facts
- The Central African Republic Conflict is a civil conflict in Central Africa, currently Active (Medium intensity).
- The Central African Republic faces ongoing instability from armed groups contesting territory outside the capital, despite peace agreements and the presence of UN and foreign security forces.
- Key actors: CAR government, Armed groups, UN peacekeepers (MINUSCA).
- What's at stake: Stabilization, Civilian protection, Resource control.
Reported deaths
UCDP best estimate, summed by the month each event began, across Central African Republic. UCDP's high and low estimates for the same period are 305 and 277. A further 100 could not be attributed to a side or to civilians. Candidate data is preliminary and is revised in UCDP's annual release; it counts deaths from organized violence only, not hunger or disease. See how this is counted, including how theaters map to countries, or compare the civilian share across every theater.
Latest developments
Headlines pulled automatically from Google News and linking to primary reporting; last refreshed 2026-09-20.
- 3d ago
- 3w ago
- 2w ago
- 2w agoFrom Wounds to Trust: Communities in the Central African Republic Rebuild Through Trauma Healing and DialogueWelcome to the United Nations
- 2w ago
- 1w ago
- 3w agoRelative of Afghans Who Helped U.S. Military Is Deported to AfricaThe New York Times
- Aug 21
Overview
The Central African Republic faces ongoing instability from armed groups contesting territory outside the capital, despite peace agreements and the presence of UN and foreign security forces.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Figures and control change continually — confirm the latest with the primary sources listed below.
Key actors
- CAR government — and national forces.
- Armed groups — various factions in the interior.
- UN peacekeepers (MINUSCA) — supporting stabilization.
- Foreign security forces — external partners backing the government.
What's at stake
- Stabilization: extending state authority beyond the capital.
- Civilian protection: violence and displacement in the interior.
- Resource control: mining and trafficking economies.
- Foreign influence: external security partnerships.
Central African Republic explained: the key dynamics
Armed groups beyond the capital
While the government controls the capital, various armed groups contest territory across the interior, where state presence is limited and violence against civilians recurs.
Fragile peace agreements
A series of peace deals have reduced but not ended the fighting, with some armed groups signing on and others continuing to operate or fragment.
Foreign security partners
UN peacekeepers and foreign security forces support the government, a partnership that has shaped the balance of power but also drawn scrutiny.
Timeline: how the Central African republic unfolded
- 2013 — A rebel coalition seizes power, triggering sectarian violence.
- 2014–18 — A UN peacekeeping mission deploys amid continued armed-group violence.
- 2019 — A peace agreement is signed with numerous armed groups.
- 2020–26 — Fighting continues in the interior despite the deal and foreign support.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
The Central African Republic is tracked by ACLED as armed-group violence concentrated outside the capital, with UCDP recording the relevant dyads. Remote terrain and limited access make verification difficult, so figures are estimates.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
Civil Conflict in the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic's civil conflict, rooted in the 2012–13 Séléka rebellion and subsequent formation of anti-Balaka self-defense groups, has persisted through multiple peace processes and government transitions. The Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), an umbrella of former armed groups, retains significant territorial presence across the center and north of the country despite military setbacks.
The CAR government has increasingly relied on Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group) personnel since 2018. These Russian mercenaries have taken on prominent combat and advisory roles but have also been credibly linked to mass killings of civilians in multiple localities. The UN has documented at least 500 killings attributable to Africa Corps since their deployment.
A Luanda peace process, backed by Angola, produced partial agreements in 2023 but has not produced a durable ceasefire or disarmament. The country's resource wealth — diamonds, gold, uranium — provides economic motivation for continued armed group activity. An estimated 1,500–3,000 people were killed in conflict-related violence in 2025.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
Is the Central African Republic at war in 2026?
The country faces ongoing low-to-medium intensity conflict with armed groups despite peace deals. Confirm the current status with primary sources such as ACLED, UCDP, and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
Who is fighting in the Central African Republic?
The government, backed by UN peacekeepers and foreign forces, contends with various armed groups in the interior.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see this theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
Is the Central African Republic at peace?
Not fully. A 2019 agreement reduced fighting, but armed groups continue to operate in the interior, and the government relies on UN peacekeepers and foreign forces to hold ground.
Who supports the CAR government?
UN peacekeepers and foreign security forces support the government; the role of external partners has been significant and at times controversial.
Source provenance
- Human Rights Watch, World Report 2026 228 days · as of 2026-02-04
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-09-20
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-20 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |
| 2026-02-04 | Bangui control updated | Human Rights Watch, World Report 2026 |