According to some sources, Bozizé used the money he got from the mining concession in Bakouma to buy two old MI 8 helicopters from Ukraine and one Lockheed C-130 Hercules, built in the 1950s, from the USA.
Among the country's five presidents since independence in 1960, three have been former army chiefs-of-staff, who have taken power through coups d'état.
No president with a military background has, however, ever been succeeded by a new military president. The country's first president, David Dacko was overthrown by his army chief-of-staff, Jean-Bédel Bokassa in 1966.
Its core consisted of Sara people from Chad and Central African Republic, but during the mutinies it recruited many young people in Bangui. DRC Militia: Rassemblement démocratique centrafricain (RDC) is the militia of the party of General Kolingba, who led the country during the 1980s.
Following Bokassa, David Dacko was restored in 1981, only to be overthrown once again by his new army chief of staff, General André Kolingba, after only a few months in power. In 1993, Ange-Félix Patassé became the Central African Republic's first elected president.
In 2002, he seized Bangui for a short period, and in March 2003 took power in a coup d'état . ===Importance of ethnicity=== When General Kolingba became president in 1981, he implemented an ethnicity-based recruitment policy for the administration.
Lack of funding has almost grounded the air force apart from an AS 350 Ecureuil delivered in 1987.
This resulted in army mutinies in 1996–1997, where fractions of the military clashed with the presidential guard, the Unité de sécurité présidentielle (USP) and militias loyal to Patassé. On April 18, 1996, between 200 and 300 soldiers mutinied, claiming that they had not received their wages since 1992–1993.
Following Bokassa, David Dacko was restored in 1981, only to be overthrown once again by his new army chief of staff, General André Kolingba, after only a few months in power. In 1993, Ange-Félix Patassé became the Central African Republic's first elected president.
This later had disastrous consequences when Kolingba was replaced by a member of a northerner tribe, Ange-Félix Patassé. ===Army mutinies of 1996–1997=== Soon after the election 1993, Patassé became unpopular within the army, not least because of his inability to pay their wages (partly due to economic mismanagement and partly because France suddenly ended its economic support for the soldiers' wages).
The MPLC's militia was already active during the 1993 election, but was strengthened during the mutinies 1996 and 1997, particularly through its Karako contingent.
It consists of the Ground Force (which includes the air service), the gendarmerie, and the National Police. Its disloyalty to the president came to the fore during the mutinies in 1996–1997, and since then has faced internal problems.
He soon became unpopular within the army, resulting in violent mutinies in 1996–1997.
This later had disastrous consequences when Kolingba was replaced by a member of a northerner tribe, Ange-Félix Patassé. ===Army mutinies of 1996–1997=== Soon after the election 1993, Patassé became unpopular within the army, not least because of his inability to pay their wages (partly due to economic mismanagement and partly because France suddenly ended its economic support for the soldiers' wages).
This resulted in army mutinies in 1996–1997, where fractions of the military clashed with the presidential guard, the Unité de sécurité présidentielle (USP) and militias loyal to Patassé. On April 18, 1996, between 200 and 300 soldiers mutinied, claiming that they had not received their wages since 1992–1993.
The unrest ended when the soldiers were finally paid their wages by France and the President agreed not to start legal proceedings against them. On May 18, 1996, a second mutiny was led by 500 soldiers who refused to be disarmed, denouncing the agreement reached in April.
Their security was ensured by the French military. On November 15, 1996, a third mutiny took place, and 1,500 French soldiers were flown in to ensure the safety of foreigners.
The military also proved its disloyalty during the mutinies in 1996–1997.
Many of the Yakoma soldiers who left the country after the mutinies in 1996–1997 have now returned and must also be reintegrated into the army.
They are now a part of Bozizé's lifeguard, the Garde républicaine, together with soldiers from Chad. Office central de répression du banditisme (OCRB): OCRB was a special unit within the police created to fight the looting after the army mutinies in 1996 and 1997.
The MPLC's militia was already active during the 1993 election, but was strengthened during the mutinies 1996 and 1997, particularly through its Karako contingent.
In January, 1997, however, the Bangui Agreements were signed and the French EFAO troop were replaced by the 1,350 soldiers of the Mission interafricaine de surveillance des Accords de Bangui (MISAB).
Although Francois Bozizé had a background in FACA himself (being its chief-of-staff from 1997 to 2001), he was cautious by retaining the defence portfolio, as well as by appointing his son Jean-Francis Bozizé cabinet director in charge of running the Ministry of Defence.
After the mutinies in 1997, the MISAB became a multilateral force, but it was armed, equipped, trained and managed by France.
They are now a part of Bozizé's lifeguard, the Garde républicaine, together with soldiers from Chad. Office central de répression du banditisme (OCRB): OCRB was a special unit within the police created to fight the looting after the army mutinies in 1996 and 1997.
The MPLC's militia was already active during the 1993 election, but was strengthened during the mutinies 1996 and 1997, particularly through its Karako contingent.
The Chadian, Gabonese and Congolese troops of the current Force multinationale en Centrafrique (FOMUC) mission in the country also enjoy logistical support from French soldiers. A study carried out by the US Congressional Research Service revealed that France has again increased its arms sales to Africa, and that during the 1998–2005 period it was the leading supplier of arms to the continent. ==Components and units== ===Air Force=== The Air Force is almost inoperable.
In the documentary the Séléka fighters seem to use a large number of M16 rifles in their fight against Anti-balaka. FORSIDIR: The presidential lifeguard, Unité de sécurité présidentielle (USP), was in March 1998 transformed into the Force spéciale de défense des institutions républicaines (FORSDIR).
Before eventually being dissolved in January 2000, this highly controversial group became feared for their terror and troubled Patassé's relations with important international partners, such as France.
In May 2001, there was an unsuccessful coup attempt by Kolingba and once again Patassé had to turn to friends abroad for support, this time Libya and DR Congo.
Although Francois Bozizé had a background in FACA himself (being its chief-of-staff from 1997 to 2001), he was cautious by retaining the defence portfolio, as well as by appointing his son Jean-Francis Bozizé cabinet director in charge of running the Ministry of Defence.
In 2002, he seized Bangui for a short period, and in March 2003 took power in a coup d'état . ===Importance of ethnicity=== When General Kolingba became president in 1981, he implemented an ethnicity-based recruitment policy for the administration.
In 2002, he seized Bangui for a short period, and in March 2003 took power in a coup d'état . ===Importance of ethnicity=== When General Kolingba became president in 1981, he implemented an ethnicity-based recruitment policy for the administration.
Due to failure to curb deepening unrest in the northern part of the country, Gambi was in July 2006 replaced with Bozizé's old friend from the military academy, Jules Bernard Ouandé. ===Military's relations with the society=== The forces assisting Bozizé in seizing the power in 2003 were not paid what they were promised and started looting, terrorising and killing ordinary citizens.
Chadian President Déby assisted him actively in taking the power in March 2003 (his rebel forces included 100 Chadian soldiers).
GR consists of so-called patriots that fought for Bozizé when he seized power in 2003 (mainly from the Gbaya tribe), together with soldiers from Chad.
Only a couple of months after Bozizé's seizure of power, in May 2003, taxi and truck drivers conducted a strike against these outrages.
When he was overthrown by Bozizé in 2003, the USP was dissolved and while some of the soldiers have been absorbed by FACA, others are believed to have joined the pro-Patassé Democratic Front of the Central African People rebel group that is fighting FACA in the north of the country. The Patriots or Liberators: Accompanied Bozizé when he seized power in March 2003.
See also JDW 12 November 2003. Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series, Volume 43 Issue 12, Pages 16909A – 16910A, Published Online: 26 January 2007: Operation Boali, French aid mission to FACA CIA World Factbook US Department of State – Bureau of African Affairs: Background note "Spécial investigation: Centrafrique, au cœur du chaos" Giraf Prod 13 jan 2014 Government of the Central African Republic Military of the Central African Republic
A national commission for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration was put in place in September 2004.
The RDC's militia is said to have camps in Mobaye and to have bonds with former officials of Kolingba's "cousin" Mobutu Sese Seko in DR Congo. == References == ==External links== 'France donates equipment to CAR,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 28 January 2004, p. 20.
Due to failure to curb deepening unrest in the northern part of the country, Gambi was in July 2006 replaced with Bozizé's old friend from the military academy, Jules Bernard Ouandé. ===Military's relations with the society=== The forces assisting Bozizé in seizing the power in 2003 were not paid what they were promised and started looting, terrorising and killing ordinary citizens.
The situation has deteriorated since early 2006, and the regular army and the presidential guard regularly execute extortion, torture, killings and other human rights violations.
At the end of 2006, there were an estimated 150,000 internally displaced people in CAR.
During a UN mission in the northern part of the country in November 2006, the mission had a meeting with a prefect who said that he could not maintain law and order over the military and the presidential guards.
See also JDW 12 November 2003. Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series, Volume 43 Issue 12, Pages 16909A – 16910A, Published Online: 26 January 2007: Operation Boali, French aid mission to FACA CIA World Factbook US Department of State – Bureau of African Affairs: Background note "Spécial investigation: Centrafrique, au cœur du chaos" Giraf Prod 13 jan 2014 Government of the Central African Republic Military of the Central African Republic
Since 2010 the Guard has received training from South Africa and Sudan, with Belgium and Germany providing support.
The Central African Armed Forces (Forces armées centrafricaines (FACA)) are the armed forces of the Central African Republic and have been barely functional since the outbreak of the civil war in 2012.
2018 saw Russia send mercenaries to help train and equip the CAR military and by 2020 Russia has increased its influence in the region. ==Army equipment== Most of the army's heavy weapons and equipment were destroyed or captured by Séléka militants during the 2012–2014 civil war.
In 2013 when militants of the Séléka rebel coalition seized power and overthrew President Bozizé they executed many FACA troops. ==History== ===Role of military in domestic politics=== The military has played an important role in the history of Central African Republic.
Thousands of the army's small arms were also distributed to civilian supporters of former President Bozizé in 2013.
Mirage F1 planes from the French Air Force regularly patrolled troubled regions of the country and also participated in direct confrontations until they were withdrawn and retired in 2014.
See also JDW 12 November 2003. Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series, Volume 43 Issue 12, Pages 16909A – 16910A, Published Online: 26 January 2007: Operation Boali, French aid mission to FACA CIA World Factbook US Department of State – Bureau of African Affairs: Background note "Spécial investigation: Centrafrique, au cœur du chaos" Giraf Prod 13 jan 2014 Government of the Central African Republic Military of the Central African Republic
In late 2019 Serbia offered two new Soko J-22 orao attack aircraft to the CAR Air Force but was it is unknown whether the orders were approved by the Air Force.
2018 saw Russia send mercenaries to help train and equip the CAR military and by 2020 Russia has increased its influence in the region. ==Army equipment== Most of the army's heavy weapons and equipment were destroyed or captured by Séléka militants during the 2012–2014 civil war.
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