Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation

Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation
Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation
President[1]Bi Sidi Souleymane (2015–2020) †[1]
Ramadhane Abdlekader (2021–2025) Surrendered[2]
Dates of operationDecember 2015 – July 2025
HeadquartersKoui (2015–21)
Abba (2020)
Besson (2021–2025)[3]
Active regionsNorthwestern part of Central African Republic
Size1,700+ (Ouham)[4]
Part ofCoalition of Patriots for Change (2020–2025)
Opponents FACA
MINUSCA
Wagner Group
Anti-balaka (pro-government factions)
Battles and wars
WebsiteRetour Réclamation Réhabilitation
  Territories under control of 3R

Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation (abbreviated 3R, French: Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation) was a rebel group in the northwestern part of Central African Republic. The group was formed in December 2015 to protect Fulani herders from Anti-balaka militia attacks.[5] The group has launched attacks on numerous towns, killed unarmed civilians and UN peacekeepers, and carried out several kidnappings. Their former leader, Sidiki Abass, was sanctioned in 2020 by the United States government, and members of the group have been sentenced by the Central African Republic's Special Criminal Court.

History

The group were initially restricted to the Ouham-Pendé prefecture. In 2016, they captured the towns of De Gaulle and Niem, killing at least 17 civilians in the process.[5][6] Their original enemy was the rebel group Anti-balaka, from whom they captured the village of Bocaranga in 2017 before transferring it to the Central African Armed Forces in January 2019.[7] 3R began to escalate their operations later in 2019. They killed 46 unarmed civilians in one attack and ambushed a UN peacekeeper and two others in another.[8] They took control of Baboua on 1 May 2020, but withdrew four days later. Less than two weeks later, they defeated local gendarmerie forces and seized Besson and Koundé,[9] and then took control of Koundjili before the end of the month, forcing the inhabitants into the bush.[10] On 6 June, 3R withdrew from the Central African peace agreement.[11]

Following the 3R withdrawal, United Nations MINUSCA forces began to counterattack.[12] Bangladeshi paratroopers recaptured Niem (22 July),[13] then Besson (28 July),[14] and then Koui (17 August).[15] Following this, 3R were forced to move their headquarters to Abba.[16] They were able to attack a village near Bocaranga on 19 July, kidnapping 40 people and stealing 50 million Central African francs.[17] Over the course of September and October, they captured several villages near Paou as well as the towns of Boguila and Nana-Bakassa, and also kidnapped three policemen.[18][19][20] Additionally, 3R captured a bridge near Bocaranga and laid landmines, establishing a checkpoint and demanding payment for use of the bridge.[21] By 2 October, Rwandan peacekeepers had removed the landmines and checkpoint.[22] On 5 December, 3R freed three of their hostages after negotiations with MINUSCA.[23]

3R banned voter registration for the 2020 Central African general election from taking place in Koui and Ngaoundaye.[24] On 17 December 2020, 3R joined the Coalition of Patriots for Change, an alliance of various rebel groups.[25]

A peace agreement was concluded on April 19, 2025, between the Central African government and the armed groups 3R and UPC.[26] They were officially dissolved on July 10, 2025, during a ceremony held in Bangui.[27]

Responses

Sidiki Abass, the leader of 3R, was sanctioned by the United States government under Executive Order 13667[28] and listed in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.[29] According to the United Nations' sources, Abass was killed in action on 18 December 2020[1], although 3R later claimed that he died in March 2021 as a result of the wounds he sustained in November 2020.[30]

The Special Criminal Court (SPC) for the Central African Republic delivered its first verdict on 3R in October 2022. This court, operational since 2018 and empowered to try crimes committed since 2003, sentenced three members of 3R who were accused of killing 46 civilians in villages in the northwest region of the Central African Republic.[31]

Organization

According to the June 2025 United Nations report, the 3R's organizational structure as it follows[2]:

  • "General" Ramadhane Abdlekader (Sembé Bobbo) – President of 3R
    • Political wing
      • Ismaël Yassine – Political Advisor
      • Hamadou Ramandou – Political Coordinator
      • Dougou – Economical Advisor
      • Ahmadou Ali – Financial Advisor
    • Operational wing
      • "General" Dobordje Goska – Chief of Staff
        • "General" Abakar – Advisor
        • "Colonel" Ardo Abba – Chief of Operations
        • Nana-Mambéré prefecture forces
          • "Colonel" Kamis – Niem/Yelewa area
          • "Major" Umair – Bouar area
        • Mambéré-Kadéï prefecture forces
          • "Colonel" Adamou – Dilapoko area
          • "Colonel" Djibrila – Noufou area
        • Ouham-Pendé prefecture forces
          • Idriss – Koui area
          • "General" Ali – Bocaranga area

References

  1. ^ a b c "Letter dated 25 June 2021 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2536 (2020) addressed to the President of the Security Counci". 25 June 2021. p. 9 and 57.
  2. ^ a b "Letter dated 15 June 2025 from the Panel of Experts pursuant to Security Council resolution 2745 (2024) addressed to the President of the Security Council". 15 June 2025. p. 46.
  3. ^ Centrafrique : « Assassinat du Maire de De Gaulle »: le général Bobo de 3R accuse les mercenaires russes de Touadéra et exige la mise en place d’une enquête internationale Archived 2021-06-17 at the Wayback Machine, 17 June 2021
  4. ^ "RCA : le 3R lance à nouveau un ultimatum à la Minusca, "pas d'élections à Ngaoundaye"". Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Amnesty International: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 2017/2018 Archived 2020-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Central African Republic: Mayhem by New Group". 20 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Centrafrique : l'armée reprend peu à peu ses dispositions d'avant la crise". 9 January 2019. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. ^ "CAR rebel ambush kills UN peacekeeper; two injured". Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ^ "RCA : le chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki en fuite, fait son retour en force dans le maquis". 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  10. ^ "RCA : Ouham-Péndé, panique au village Koundili, les rebelles de 3R occupent à nouveau le village". 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Rebel group suspends participation in C.Africa peace pact". Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  12. ^ "RCA : attaque de Bocaranga, la Minusca lance une vaste opération contre le 3R à koui". 30 June 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  13. ^ MINUSCA [@UN_CAR] (22 July 2020). "#CAR: The 'Ala Londo' military operation continues in the Northwest. To date, #MINUSCA peacekeepers have regained control of NIEM (Nana-Mambéré) chasing the 3R elements who avoided combat" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Centrafrique : Besson reprise des mains des "3R" déclare la MINUSCA". 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  15. ^ "RCA: la ville de Koui désormais sous-contrôle total des casques bleus et des FACA". 18 August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  16. ^ "RCA : Aba, nouveau bastion de 3R dans le Nord-ouest". 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  17. ^ "RCA : des commerçants et humanitaires braqués par les rebelles de 3R, plus de 50 millions FCFA emportés". 19 July 2020. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  18. ^ "RCA : panique à Nanga Boguila, les 3R occupent la ville depuis plusieurs jours, les populations paniquées". 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  19. ^ "RCA : un élément de la police et son auxiliaire enlevé à bang par les éléments de 3R". 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  20. ^ "RCA : un auxiliaire de la gendarmerie kidnappé par les 3R dans la localité de Paoua". Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  21. ^ "RCA : axe Bocaranga – Bouar bloqué, les 3R auraient miné le pont de Moumdji". 1 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  22. ^ "RCA : Bocaranga, retour à la normale sur le pont de Moumdji". 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  23. ^ "RCA : libération des trois éléments des FDSI capturés par les 3R". Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Central African Republic: 3R Rebels In Accused Of Perturbing Electoral Registration". September 2020. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  25. ^ Centrafrique : Déclaration de la Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement Archived 2021-01-28 at the Wayback Machine, 18 December 2020
  26. ^ https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250711-centrafrique-les-groupes-arm%C3%A9s-3r-et-upc-officiellement-dissous
  27. ^ "Central African Republic's major rebel groups to disarm, dissolve". Africanews. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Militia Leader in Central African Republic for Human Rights Abuse". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 7 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Hong Kong-related Designations; Central African Republic Designation". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 7 August 2020. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  30. ^ "RCA : les cadres du mouvement armée 3R annonce bizarrement la mort du sulfureux chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki" (in French). 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Centrafrique: trois membres d'un groupe armé condamnés pour "crimes contre l'humanité" par la CPS". RFI (in French). 31 October 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
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