This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
Published on July 15, 2020, a UN report highlighted the escalating situation in the Central African Republic, where foreign fighters and arms have contributed to a series of clashes.
The report noted that regional arms trafficking continued through various routes, with the Central African Republic, Chad, and Sudan urged to strengthen their efforts to combat the flow of arms and foreign fighters.
The country has been plagued by instability since the overthrow of former president Francois Bozize in 2013, with nearly a quarter of its 4.5 million people forced to flee their homes due to fighting.
Controlled by rival militia groups, the country is set to hold a presidential election in December 2020, which the UN report warns could further incentivize armed groups to maintain control over territory.
Two predominantly Fulani armed groups, the Union pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC) and Retour, reclamation et rehabilitation (3R), have expanded their areas of control, seeking to maximize taxation of seasonal herders.
According to the report, "the prospect of elections represented an additional incentive for armed groups to maintain and extend their control over territory."
