Armed group violence continued in particular in centre and east as disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process remained stalled. Ex-Seleka factions clashed mid-Jan on Ippy-Bria axis (east) and in Morouba and Bakala (centre). Unidentified assailants 5 Jan killed UN peacekeeper at Bokayai, Ouham-Pendé prefecture. In SE, unidentified attackers 3 Jan killed two UN peacekeepers 60km west of Obo. After ex-Seleka and anti-balaka leaders met Angolan President dos Santos in Dec, President Touadéra met dos Santos in Luanda, Angolan capital 11 Jan. Touadéra 12 Jan said 70,000 people displaced since violence restarted in Sept. Govt and UN 13 Jan launched $399.5mn humanitarian response plan for 2017-2019. UNSC 27 Jan extended arms embargo until 31 Jan 2018 and renewed Panel of Experts’ mandate.

Following clashes late Nov around Bria, Haute-Kotto prefecture (east), rival ex-Seleka factions Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) and Popular Front for the Central African Renaissance (FPRC) clashed again early Dec in Bakala and close to Bambari, Ouaka prefecture (centre). Attack 27 Dec on displaced persons camps in Batangafo, Ouham prefecture burned over 100 huts, killed three people, injured over 50 and displaced over 900. President Touadéra 1 Dec said he wanted to negotiate conditions of disarmament with armed groups; Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) SG 11 Dec said it would assist disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process by organising talks with armed groups but consider supporting forced disarmament if negotiations failed. In parallel, several ex-Seleka hardliners allegedly met Angolan President dos Santos to discuss further talks. UN mission (MINUSCA) 14 Dec reported “alarming increase” in human rights abuses by ex-Seleka and anti-balaka groups, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and Fulani armed groups since Aug 2016. UN report 5 Dec accused sixteen Gabonese and 25 Burundian peacekeepers of sexual abuse and exploitation in CAR 2014-2015.

Donors at Brussels Conference for CAR 17 Nov pledged $2.2 bn to support govt recovery plan. After armed groups broke into their offices and harassed staff in Batangafo, Ouham prefecture, four international NGOs suspended operations 14-21 Nov to protest insecurity and called for more MINUSCA peacekeepers in area. Ex-Seleka rebel factions Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) and Popular Front for the Central African Renaissance (FPRC) clashed late Nov in Bria, Haute-Kotto prefecture in east, over 85 rebels and civilians killed and 11,000 displaced; FPRC reportedly targeted ethnic Fulanis who make up most of UPC.

Deadly violence surged in north, centre and in capital, Bangui. In north and centre, especially in Ouaka prefecture, attacks by militias and other armed groups on civilians, police and MINUSCA peacekeepers and clashes between ex-Seleka and anti-balaka militias reportedly killed over 70 people; among worst violence, ex-Seleka 12 Oct attacked Kaga Bandoro (N) targeting displaced persons’ camp and killing over 30 civilians and 15 Oct killed at least eleven civilians at camp at Ngakobo, near Bambari (centre). In Bangui: army officer’s killing 4 Oct sparked reprisal attacks that killed eleven in following days; during 24 Oct civil society-led general strike to demand MINUSCA’s departure, protestors clashed with peacekeepers, four protestors killed; clash in Bangui between armed groups 30 Oct killed two group leaders and eight civilians. Several NGOs suspended activities until security situation improves. Absence of hard-line armed groups at first disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration evaluation meeting 12 Oct, including Popular Front for the Central African Renaissance (FPRC), Mokom anti-balaka faction and “3R” group, undermined progress. France 26 Oct said it would maintain rapid reaction force of 350 soldiers and surveillance drones to assist MINUSCA after end of Sangaris mission 31 Oct.

Former rebels intensified attacks on civilians and clashed with local militias in north and centre risking greater violence in coming weeks. Ex-Seleka fighters 3 Sept attacked villagers in Nangayan near Dekoa in centre, killing three; clashed with MINUSCA peacekeepers in Dekoa night of 3-4 Sept, one fighter killed; raided Ndomete village near Kaga Bandoro in north 16 Sept, killing 26 villagers; clashed with anti-balaka militia later same day in Kaga Bandoro, at least four ex-Seleka fighters killed. Ex-Seleka 27 Sept reportedly attacked Koui, Ouham-Pende prefecture in NW. Ahead of withdrawal of French Sangaris mission end Oct, France 8 Sept said it would provide MINUSCA with several surveillance drones and about 100 operators. Presidents of Chad, Sudan and CAR 9 Sept agreed to deploy security forces along shared borders to restrict rebel movements and crime. To promote reconciliation between Christians and Muslims, President Touadéra 12 Sept made Eid Muslim festival national holiday.

Over 30 ex-Séléka rebels, including leaders under arrest warrants, 12 Aug left capital Bangui and exchanged fire with security forces at checkpoints, stopped by MINUSCA next day 50km south of Sibut, ten arrested; Popular Front for the Central African Renaissance (FPRC) leaders Abdoulaye Hissène and Aroun Gaye escaped and 17 Aug reportedly arrived in Kaga Bandoro in north. Police 16 Aug raided Hissène’s house in Bangui, seized around 700 weapons and ammunition. 22 representatives of ten armed groups 20 Aug formed disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) platform in Bangui. MINUSCA 5 Aug arrested Jean-Francis Bozizé, son of former President François Bozizé, under 2014 international warrant for torture, involvement in assassination and personal use of public funds; court 9 Aug granted him provisional release.

Insecurity and tensions persisted in NW, N, SW and centre as armed groups remained reluctant to disarm. Fighting between ex-Seleka rebel factions Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) and Popular Front for the Central African Renaissance (FPRC) in Bambari 4 July left fourteen dead including civilians. Ex-Seleka attack in Ngakobo, south of Bambari 23 July left at least three dead. Govt 12 July said it had begun talks with UN on lifting arms embargo to enable it to procure weapons for army. French President Hollande 13 July confirmed that Sangaris military mission would end Oct 2016. UNSC 26 July extended UN mission (MINUSCA) until Nov 2017. EU Military Advisory Mission (EUMAM) replaced 16 July by EU Military Training Mission (EUTM) to support defence sector reform initially for two years. UN 8 July said over 6,000 people had fled from CAR to Chad and Cameroon since violence rose mid-June. International Monetary Fund 20 July approved $115.8mn three-year loan arrangement.

Violence spiked in Bangui and NW and central regions, continued in SE. In Bangui, killing of Muslim motorcycle taxi driver led to clashes in PK5 neighbourhood between Muslims and Christians 11 June, four killed; ex-Seleka rebels 19 June took six police captive for five days. Anti-balaka 24 June killed UN peacekeeper in Bangui. Anti-balaka fighters and ex-Seleka-backed herders clashed multiple times from 10 June in NW Ngaoundaye; ex-Seleka 15-16 June took control of town. Unidentified gunmen killed local Médecins Sans Frontières driver in ambush 17 June between Sibut and Grimari, NE of Bangui. Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels kidnapped 29 people in separate raids 12 and 14 June in and near Kadjema in SE. Uganda 10 June said it would withdraw troops from AU Regional Task Force pursuing LRA in SE by end of 2016 citing group’s reduced strength and insufficient international support. France 22 June said it had reduced troops in CAR from 650 to 350. Human Rights Watch 7 June said soldiers from Republic of Congo serving as peacekeepers in African Union mission (MISCA) and UN mission (MINUSCA) killed at least eighteen people Dec 2013-June 2015. National assembly 10 June adopted govt’s General Policy Programme. International Criminal Court 21 June sentenced Congolese former rebel Jean-Pierre Bemba to eighteen years in prison for his militia’s abuses in CAR 2002-2003.

National assembly 6 May elected former Minister Karim Mekassoua as assembly president, despite corruption allegations against him. French President Hollande 13 May visited Bangui, said Sangaris mission would end by Dec, 250 French soldiers would secure airport in 2017 and more would join EU training mission and UN mission. Ex-Seleka rebel factions late May demanded positions in govt and threatened to reunify to pressure govt. Legislative elections held 15 May in ten constituencies where initial results contested; results due by 5 June. Govt 19 May created committee to prevent genocide. Armed men 18 May killed Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) driver 82km north of Bossangoa (NW); MSF 19 May suspended operations in area. ICC prosecutor 18 May requested minimum 25 years’ imprisonment for Congolese former rebel Jean-Pierre Bemba for abuses committed by his militia in CAR 2002-2003. IMF 29 May said it would provide $110mn in financial aid over three years.

President Touadéra 2 April named former campaign director Simplice Sarandji as PM, 11 April appointed new govt including six former ministers under ex-President Bozizé, but no ex-Seleka or anti-balaka militia leaders. Ex-Seleka groups said govt not representative. Touadéra 14 April began consultations with ex-Seleka on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR); Touadéra insisted they begin DDR before discussing demands, ex-Seleka conditioned disarmament on govt meeting demands. African Union and International Organisation of La Francophonie readmitted CAR in recognition of successful elections. National Election Authority (ANE) 8 April announced results of 31 March second round of legislative elections: independent candidates won 56 of 130 seats, ANE said legislative by-election in final ten constituencies to take place mid-May. EU 19 April launched army training mission (EUTM RCA) to become operational mid-2016. Touadéra in Paris 20 April reiterated that CAR needs international support to recover from crisis, President Hollande said Sangaris military mission would remain to improve security. Unidentified assailant killed Moroccan MINUSCA peacekeeper 17 April in SE Rafaï. In continued violent predation, Lord’s Resistance Army 21 April killed three people, abducted six in Rafaï. UNSC 27 April renewed MINUSCA mandate until 31 July 2016 and requested UNSG Ban carry out strategic review.