Coalition of Patriots for Change

Coalition of Patriots for Change
Coalition des patriotes pour le changement
LeadersFrançois Bozizé
Dates of operation2020–present
Group(s)
Former
HeadquartersBossangoa, Ouham (2020 – February 2021)
Markounda, Ouham (February 2021)[3]
Kabo, Ouham (March 2021–April 2021)[4]
Koumra, Chad (June 2021)[5]
N'Djamena, Chad (since July 2021)[6]
Active regionsCentral African Republic
Allies
OpponentsState opponents:
Non-State opponents:
Battles and wars
List of engagements
WebsiteCoalition of Patriots for Change on Facebook

The Coalition of Patriots for Change (French: Coalition des patriotes pour le changement; CPC) is a coalition of major rebel groups in the Central African Republic created in 2020 to disrupt the 2020–21 Central African Republic general election.[8][9]

Background

On 3 December 2020, the Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic rejected the candidature of former president François Bozizé in the upcoming presidential elections.[10] On 4 December, Bozizé met with Mahamat al-Khatim, leader of the rebel group Central African Patriotic Movement (MPC), in Kaga-Bandoro before leaving for his stronghold, Bossangoa.[11]

History

Situation in Central African Republic on 3 January 2021 at height of CPC control

On 15 December 2020, major rebel groups in the Central African Republic including Anti-balaka, UPC, FPRC, 3R and MPC created a coalition.[12] The group seized many towns including Yaloke and Bossembele.[13] Bambari was also temporarily seized by rebels.[14] On 25 December, the rebels killed three UN peacekeepers and injured two others in Dekoa and Bakouma.[15][16] Due to rebel attacks, elections did not take place in many areas of the country. Some 800 of the country's polling stations, 14% of the total, were closed due to violence,[17] and during the first round, voting was unable to take place in 29 of the 71 sub-prefectures, while six others only managed to partially vote before being shut down due to voter intimidation.[18] On 15 January, rebels attacked Bangui killing one peacekeeper before being repelled by international forces.[19] On 21 March, the coalition announced that Bozizé had become the group's "general coordinator".[20] On 6 April UPC reportedly left Coalition of Patriots for Change,[21] but officially rejoined in early December 2021.[22]

Bozizé–Darassa conflict and split

In July 2024, Ali Darassa, leader of UPC and Bozizé's right hand man, announced the cessation of hostilities with the Touadéra government. This statement was denied by the entirety of CPC, according to Bozizé, which led to the expulsion of Darassa from the alliance on August 5.[2]

On August 30, Darrassa announced the creation of CPC–fondamentale (CPC-F) splinter faction that mainly comprised UPC, some members of FRPC and anti-balaka, as well as recently formed Front de défense pour les libertés publiques (FDLP) group. Haroun Gaye was appointed general coordinator of CPC-F. Hovewer, many groups within CPC remained loyal to Bozizé, including 3R, remaining elements of MPC and several high-ranking FPRC members. Bozizé had subsequently designated Ramadhane Abdlekader (Sembé Bobbo), 3R leader, as his deputy, and Dobordje Goska, 3R chief of staff, as military chief of staff for the coalition.[2]

Despite the rift, CPC and its splinter faction continued to cooperate on the ground and held a meeting in November 2024, discussing plans to ramp up attacks on FACA. From July to December of the same year, Darassa had been in negotiations with the government to rejoin the disarmament process, although some senior rebel sources indicate that he was not genuinely committed to peace talk. Ultimately, Darassa didn't rejoin the reconciliation process and ordered CPC-F faction to attack positions of government troops.[2]

Dissolution of 3R and UPC

A peace agreement was concluded on April 19, 2025, between the Central African government and the armed groups 3R and UPC.[23] They were officially dissolved on July 10, 2025, during a ceremony held in Bangui.[24]

Notes

  1. ^ Despite Mahamat al-Khatim's November 2023 decision to leave CPC[1], some members of the group chose to stay in the coalition.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Centrafrique: le groupe armé MPC annonce quitter la coalition rebelle CPC". Radio France Internationale.
  2. ^ a b c d "Letter dated 13 June 2025 from the Panel of Experts pursuant to Security Council resolution 2745 (2024) addressed to the President of the Security Council". 13 June 2025. p. 7.
  3. ^ RCA : reprise de la ville de Bossangoa par les FACA, les rebelles se retirent Archived 25 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine, 24 February 2021
  4. ^ Centrafrique: l'ancien président Bozizé vu à Kabo dans le Nord ? Archived 1 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine, 1 March 2021
  5. ^ RCA: gravement malade, le chef rebelle François Bozizé se soigne à Koumra au Tchad Archived 10 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine, 8 June 2021
  6. ^ François Bozizé et d'autres chefs rebelles centrafricains se trouvent à Ndjamena, 7 November 2021
  7. ^ "Letter dated 5 June 2024 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2693 (2023) addressed to the President of the Security Council" (PDF).
  8. ^ "CAR says ex-president attempting 'coup' as rebels form coalition". 19 December 2020. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  9. ^ "François Bozizé: CAR accuses former president of 'attempted coup'". BBC.co.uk/News. BBC. 19 December 2020. Archived from the original on 20 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  10. ^ "RCA : présidentielle du 27 décembre, la Cour Constitutionnelle publie la liste définitive des candidats". 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  11. ^ "RCA : retranchement de l'ancien Président François Bozizé à Bossangoa, des rumeurs de coup d'État enflent à Bangui". 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Centrafrique : la Déclaration des Groupes armés qui sonne le glas du régime de Bangui". 17 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  13. ^ "RCA : inquiétude à Bangui, la ville de Bossembélé serait tombée aux mains des rebelles". 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  14. ^ "RCA : retour au calme à Bambari après le départ des rebelles". 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  15. ^ "RCA : la coalition rebelle rompt son cessez-le-feu, trois Casques bleus tués". 25 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  16. ^ "UN peacekeepers killed in Central African Republic ahead of national polls". France 24. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  17. ^ "CAR violence forced closure of 800 polling stations: Commission". Al Jazeera. 28 December 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Central African Republic opposition coalition demands elections be scrapped". eNCA. Agence France-Presse. 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  19. ^ "UN peacekeeper killed in Central African Republic". 16 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  20. ^ "CAR ex-President François Bozizé takes charge of rebel alliance". 21 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  21. ^ RCA: UPC d'Ali Darassa, le groupe rebelle radical quitte la CPC Archived 20 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine, 6 April 2021
  22. ^ Centrafrique : la rébellion de la CPC en ordre de bataille, 12 December 2021
  23. ^ https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250711-centrafrique-les-groupes-arm%C3%A9s-3r-et-upc-officiellement-dissous
  24. ^ "Central African Republic's major rebel groups to disarm, dissolve". Africanews. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
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