Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (République centrafricaine) was originally inhabited by tribes speaking Adamawa and Bantu languages. The region was largely free of European intrusion, but in the early 19th century Muslim traders began arriving. Initially amiable and peaceful, after 1850 the region began to see an influx of armed slave traders. Between 1860 and 1910 most of the eastern population was forcibly exported. During the Scramble for Africa, France won out over Belgium, Germany and Great Britain for control of the region, incoporating it into what was then called French Congo. Meanwhile the slave trade continued among Africans, with the more powerful tribes subjugating the weaker ones, although it gradually began to decline after 1920. On 1 December 1958 the region of Ubangi-Shari became an autonomous territory within the French Community and took the name Central African Republic; it was granted full independence on 30 August 1960.

The country has seen a number of regime changes since independence, the first merely two years after it was originally achieved. A one-party state was established in 1962 by David Dacko, who in 1965 was subsequently overthrown in a military coup led by Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa. Bokassa declared himself President for Life in 1972, and later Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire on 4 December 1976. Accusations of cannibalism and feeding political opponents to animals kept in his personal zoo prompted France to intervene militarily in 1979, re-establishing Dacko as president (once again under a Republic). Two years later, he was again overthrown by General André Kolingba, who suspended the constitution and ruled over the country until 1990. Under intense international and local pressure Kolingba resisted the holding of free elections until 1993. A new constitution was approved in December 1994 following victory of the country's first elected president Ange-Félix Patassé. His presidency was unpopular with the military, sparking protests, ethnic tension, vandalism, and finally outright mutiny in 1996-1997. In January 1997, the Bangui Peace Accords were signed, providing for the deployment of an inter-African military mission. It would later be replaced by a UN peacekeeping force, the Mission des Nations Unies en RCA (MINURCA).

Ethnic and political violence once again erupted in May 2001, sparked by a failed coup attempt in Bangui, and leading to two years of violence in the capital that resulted in the destruction of many homes and thousands dead. Former chief-of-staff François Bozizé, who had fled to Chad after being sacked in October 2001, returned with a group of approximately one thousand fighters to sieze Bangui in 2002, and achieving full control over the country in March 2003, while Patassé was away at a conference in Niger. Along with Abel Goumba, Bozizé formed a union government that remained in power until a general election was held in March and May 2005. During his tenure as leader of the junta, Bozizé created his Garde Republicaine of devoted troops who would later be accused of committing multiple atrocities against civilians. Accusations soon arose that the president of Chad (Idriss Déby) had sent fighters and military assistance to Bozizé in an effort to secure his grip over the country. Relations between the two nations were strengthened during this period.

The Central African Bush War began in November 2004, ultimately pitting a number of armed rebel organizations and smaller militia groups against the military government of the CAR. Most prominent among the anti-government factions was the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (UFDR), but a number of other organizations also fought in the war, including L’Armée Populaire pour la restauration de la démocratie (APRD), the Groupe d'action patriotique pour la liberation de Centrafrique (GAPLC), Le Mouvement des libérateurs centrafricains pour la justice (MLCJ), the Front démocratique Centrafricain (FDC), and the Union des Forces Républicaines (UFR). A peace agreemnt was signed in February 2007 by the political leaders of the FDC (FDPC), but hostilities continued against the government by the remaining dissident forces. The APRD signed a peace accord in May 2008, bringing the CPJP to the negotiation table in August of that year. Fighting still continued among rebel factions for control of diamond fields well into 2011, until an agreement was reached in June.

In December 2012, president Bozizé faced accusations of acting in bad faith and violating terms of the peace agreements, sparking renewed hostilities from an alliance of militia groups identifying as Séléka (coalition) that resulted the overthrow of the presidency and siezure of Bangui on 24 March 2013. Rebel leader Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia declared himself president and remained in that position

The Forces Armées Centrafricaines (FACA) are the armed forces of the CAR, and consist of the Ground Forces, Air Forces, Gendarmerie Nationale, the Garde Républicaine (Republican Guard), and the Sûreté Nationale (National Police), with approximately 4500 active duty personnel.

Camouflage Patterns of the Central African Republic

During the short-lived reign of "Emperor" Jean-Bédel Bokassa, members of his Imperial Guard were frequently seen wearing a "leopard spot" pattern camouflage uniform. The design is very similar to, if not precisely the same, as that worn by units in Zaire.

Another unique pattern observed under the reign of Bokassa was this "yellow lizard" design, having bright green and ochre-colored stripes over a sandy background. It is unknown whether the use of this design continued into the post-Empire period.

Variations of the French tenue de leópard or lizard pattern with more conventional color palettes have been worn by some various units throughout the 1970s and 1980s, although these appear to have become obsolete in the modern era.

A faithful copy of the American-designed m81 woodland camouflage design has been worn by members of the FACA since at least 2005.

Additionally, other copies of woodland, having slightly different color palettes and mostly produced in Asian factories, have also been worn at various times by the FACA.

FACA personnel have worn DPM camouflage uniforms on several occasions, although to what extent is not clear. Photographs from 2007 and 2012 document its use, although the style of uniform is unlike the typical French designs worn by this country, and may have been donated by another country or a one-time purchase.

FACA has worn the French CE woodland camouflage design since at least 2005.

Elements of the Garde républicaine (Republican Guard), also known as the Garde présidentielle, adopted an Asian-made copy of the US tricolor desert pattern at some point during the early 2000s.

Circa 2018, the Groupement spécial chargé de la protection républicaine (GSPR) of the Republican Guard adopted a grey-dominant horizontal pattern consisting of a weblike mesh of olive green printed over a grey base, with interspersed designs in a reddish-brown color throughout. At a distance, the pattern is quite reminiscent of a similar pattern attributed to Cote d'Ivoire in the 1970s & 1980s, and in fact was adopted by that country's Ministry of Water and Forests in 2013.

The personnel seen here, members of Alpha Group (a specialized executive protection unit trained by the Wagner Group of Russia, and falling under the command of the Republican Guard) are wearing a version of the old Soviet berezhka (birch) pattern camouflage. This was first seen circa 2019.

The Russian EMR pattern (aka Tsifra Tetris or "digital flora") is also seeing limited use by some members of the Armed Forces.

The pattern seen here, based on US "three color desert" but having a mostly grey color palette, is being worn by some units of the CAR.

First appearing in 2022, a series of fractal pattern camouflage designs are now being worn by a law enforcement elements in the Central African Republic. A blue-dominant design, consisting of dark blue, medium blue, and grey shapes on a pale blue background, appears to be worn strictly by the Sûreté Nationale or the National Police. In different light, the design often appears more grey-dominant.

A completely new camouflage design was adopted by FACA in early 2022, although by no means has it become universal in its distribution. The design incorporates irregular "worm" shapes, using medium brown, light green, and khaki on a sand-colored background. Many high ranking officers have appeared wearing the pattern as well as certain elite units of the Army and Gendarmerie Nationale.

A variation of the above pattern features black, russet-brown, and khaki shapes on a light tan background.

Camouflage of Insurgent and Anti-government Forces

The Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (Union for Peace in Central Africa), a rebel organization active since 2014 and in control of some southern portions of the country, has utilized a number of camouflage designs among its combatants and commanders. The following is a sample of those documented in use, without any apparent affiliation to specific units or purposes.

Central African Republic