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Vol 52 No 19

Published 23rd September 2011


Central African Republic

Baba Laddé: Robber or Robin Hood?

While the armed groups in the Central African Republic boast grandiose titles including words such as ‘front’ and ‘people’, extortion is usually their raison d’être. Most are led by Peulh (Fulani) people. The Union des forces démocratiques pour le rassemblement (UFDR) and the Convention des patriotes pour la justice et la paix (CPJP) live off the diamond miners. The Armée populaire pour la restauration de la république et la démocratie (APRD) collects fees from local markets. The Front patriotique pour le rassemblement (FPR) provides ‘protection’ for Peulh herders (known in CAR and South Sudan as Mbororo) who would otherwise fall victim to bandits (often known as zaraguinas), other militias (including the above-mentioned) and the Forces armées centrafricaines (FACA, the national army) and the Gendarmerie.

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